Taiga Flashcards
What is the climate of the Taiga like?
Short, wet summers (up to 20 degrees Celsius). Long cold winters with snow on the ground for many months. Low precipitation (below 20mm for five months).
What are adaptations of animals in the Taiga?
Thick, oily, waterproof fur to retain body heat. Some hibernate or migrate in winter because of cold and lack of food.
What is the nutrient cycle like?
Precipitation and chemical weathering is lower. Most nutrients in litter and very slow decay transfer, biomass store is small.
Is the Taiga or Tropical Rainforest more productive?
Tropical Rainforest.
Does the Taiga or Tropical Rainforest have more deforestation and why is it less of a problem than the other?
Taiga because the biome is vast, isolated and out of sight. There are also less ‘cute and cuddly’ species under threat they people get excited about.
What is the impact of Athabasca tar sands (Canada)?
Both methods of extracting tar sands (deforesting and strip mining or steaming out tar) destroys the forest and produces toxic waste collected in tailings ponds. Uses 2-4 tonnes of water for every tonne of oil produced plus natural gas.
What is the impact of James Bay HEP project (Canada)?
11000km2 of Taiga flooded, poisonous mercury released polluting local rivers, roads dams and reservoirs have disrupted caribou migration routes.
Why are there more forest fires in the Taiga?
Summers can be hot and dry, pine needle litter is perfect tinder for fire to start, summer storms generate lightning strikes, coniferous trees contain sticky resin which burns easily.
What is the impact of forest fires in the Taiga?
Aspen and birch trees sprout from burned stumps, some trees’ pine cones open when burned which releases seeds. Forests don’t regenerate properly between fires, reduces biodiversity as fire tolerant species dominate, animal biodiversity decreases as trees decline.
What is the impact of pests in the Taiga?
Reduce commercial value of forest, alter ecosystem and food web, change the landscape as there are fewer trees.
What causes acid rain?
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide released into the air from burning fossil fuels. These react with water to for sulphuric and nitric acids. Precipitation carries these acids down to the surface.
What is the impact of acid rain on the Taiga?
Damages needles, acidic Taiga soils cause damage to tree roots (aluminium compounds released), less nutrients in soil, weaker trees can’t take up nutrients so are more vulnerable to disease and pests, biodiversity reduced.
What is the difference between a wilderness and a national park?
Wilderness- undisturbed by human activity.
National Park- mostly in natural state but can have tourists and recreation.
