Taiga Forest (8) Flashcards
Examples of how Taiga forests are Interdependent ecosystems?
-Plants gain their nutrients from the soil and provide nutrition to the animals that eat them. In turn, animals spread seeds through their manure (dung), helping the plants to reproduce
-The cold climate causes plants to grow and decompose slowly. Soil is low in nutrients, reducing the ability for plants to grow
-Herbivores that rely on plants (eg. mosses) to survive must migrate to areas where there are plentiful amounts of food. Carnivores have to follow the herbivores to survive
How are plants adapted to the Taiga forest?
(Mostly conifers)
-Evergreen - make the best use of available light for photosynthesis
-Have needles (compared to flat leaves) - reduces water loss by reducing the surface area
-Cone-shaped - heavy snowfall can slide off branches without breaking them
How are animals adapted to the Taiga forest?
-Well-insulated - thick fur, small ears to reduce heat loss
-Hibernation - hibernation conserves energy and allows animals to survive the winter
-Camouflage (eg. white coats) - camouflaged against the snow - can hide from predators, can sneak up on prey
Describe the Nutrient Cycle in the Taiga forest
-Largest store is the litter - trees are evergreen and always shed leaves
-Smallest store is the soil - slow rates of decomposition due to low temperatures means that nutrients are not released to the soil much (INFERTILE soils)
Why do Taiga forests have low biodiversity?
-Was an ice-age - animals have had relatively little time to adapt to the current climate
-Simple structure does not provide for many habitats - fewer ecological niches and species
-Less productive - slow growth and less biomass because of cold- not much food available
Threats to Taiga forest?
Logging for softwood - used in furniture
Exploitation of fossil fuels - often involving mining/drilling
Pulp and paper production - felled trees are mashed
HEP - large areas of land are flooded by rivers
Exploitation of minerals - trees are chopped to make way for mines, roads
How does Acid Rain reduce biodiversity?
-Burning fossil fuels releases gases (eg. SO2) into the atmosphere and react to form acids
-Acid rain damages plant leaves and makes the soil too acidic to support growth
How do Forest Fires reduce biodiversity?
-Climate change is leading to warmer, drier climates - increases frequency of fires
-Destroy huge numbers of trees and change the distribution of species
-Harder to find food as the forest has been broken into smaller sections
Methods of Conservation of Taiga forests (3)
Creating a Wilderness Area
Creating a National Park
Sustainable Forestry
Reasons for protecting Taiga forests (3)
-Taiga forests store lots of Carbon - deforestation releases more CO2 -> global warming
-Some species are only found in Taiga forests (adapted) -> extinction
-Indigenous people depend on the forest for their traditional way of life
Reasons for Exploiting Taiga forests (3)
-The demand for resources is increasing - people need wood, fuel and minerals
-Forest industries generate lots of jobs
-Exploitation of the forest generates lots of wealth for countries involved
