Taiga Forest Under Threat Flashcards
Taiga forest and TRF is what ecosytem
Interdependent ecosytems (biotic and abiotic are all dependent on eachother)
How are the coniferous trees adapted to cold dry climate
-they are evergreen menaing they don’t drip leaves in particular seasons, so they can make best use of available light
-they have needles to reduce water loss from string, cold winds
They are coned shapes so heavy einter snowfall can slide off branches without breaking them
Adaptations of animals
- many larger animals are migratory
- many animals are well insulated (thick fur or downy feathers)
- some animals hibernate to conserve energy
- some animals like snowshoe hairs are camouflaged
Nuturent cycle
In taiga forest few nutirents are added through precipiation and weathering. Lots are lossed through runoff or leaching. Most of nutirents are stored as dead material (litter). The cold and dry climate means nutirents cycle is much slower than TRF
Why does taiga forest have such low biodiversity
- land was covered by ice until around 15000 years ago leaving less time for adaptation
- fewer ecological niches for organisms to fillfo fewer variety of species
- less producitve (grwoing season is short)
- some groups of animals are under represented (not many amphibians)
How are taiga forests exploieted
- logging for softwood
- exploitations of fossil fuels (Tar sands)
- pulp and paper production
- HEP energy
- exploitationof minerals
How is acid perecipitation a cause for loss of biodiversity
Burning fossil fuels releases gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These disolve in water in the atmosphere to form acids which are deposited on plants and soils
Acid rain damages plant’s leaves and make it harder to cope with the cold. It can make the soil to acidic to support growth and kills organisms in lakes and streams.
How do pests and disease cause loss of biodiversity
They cause damage to organisms and are mostly specific to one species in a perticular area making it easy to spread and multiply
Warming cause by climate change makes it easier for pests and disease causing pathogens to survive.
Creating a wilderness area strengths
Has the highest level of protection.
Area is kept as pristine as possible
Usually covers a very large area so large-scale projects can still take place.
Creating a wilderness area challenges
The large, remote areas are hard to police.
There is economic pressure on governmnets from logging, mining and energy companies who want to use recources
There is pressure from companies and tourists to build roads to allow greater access
Creating a national park strengths
May be established to protect particular species.
Often cover a large area
Unsustainabke human activity such as logging and mining is not permitted.
There is good access for tourists
Creating a national park challenges
Need to take account for indigenous commuities, who may be using land for hunting.
Tourism may be required to pay for conservation, but access roads, infrastructure and pollution
Sustainable forestry strengths
Limits can be placed on the number of trees felled or the size of clear-cut areas to allow the forest to regulate.
Companies may be required to regenerate the area of logging
Selective logging means some trees remanin to become the new forest
Sustainable forestry challenges
Some countries stuggle to enforce the restriction.
They may be a lack of clear managment or information about the ecosystem.
Different groups may not agree with rules and restrictions
Reasons to protect taiga forest
Taiga forest store lots of carbon - deforestation will release some of this as CO2, which causes global warming
Some species are only found in taiga forest as they are adapted. The destruction of the habitat could lead to extintion
Many idigenous people depend on forest for their traditional ways of life
