Test 2 Flashcards
Forests of the far north and Earth’s green.
Taiga
Worlds largest terrestrial biome and also called Taiga
Boreal Forest
Where are Boreal and Taiga forests located.
In the north Canada, Sweden, Russia, and Siberia.
Boreal Forest History
Developing for 10,000 years
Most trees are young due to natural disturbance
Oldest tree in the world
Cluster of Norway spruce found in Sweden about 9550 years old
Boreal Forest Climate
Harsh cold artic climate
Winter lasts for half a year
Short summers
Temperatures range from -65 to 75
Boreal Forest Precipitation
15-20 inches a year
Evaporation is lower than precipitation which creates dense vegetation
What did the boreal do when glaciated
It left depressions and filled water to create lakes and sediments to creates bogs and fens
What are bogs
Bogs are acidic and and create peat while being fed by rainwater and are dominated by Sphagnum Moss
What are fens
Fens are alkaline fed by surface or groundwater
Indigenous People in Boreal Regions
2 million people in the Taiga and in Canada or Russia
Transition zone of vegetation and divides tundra from the forest
Tundra-Taiga Ecotone
What does the tree line represent in the Boreal Forest
The tree line represents the transition
‘zone’ between the boreal
forest and the tundra, called
the ‘Tundra-Taiga Ecotone’
Why cant trees grow in the tundra
Very short summer
Permafrost
Harsh bitter wind and carries crystals of ice
Tree Line and Climate Change
Tree line is suspected to be moving
northward with increased temperatures
Where is an Open Conifer Forest
The north
Lichen is common
Typical in the northern
boreal. Trees are further
apart, lichen covers the
ground (and the trees)
Looks like snow from
above.
Conifer Trees
Dominant plant form is coniferous trees
Spruce, pine, fir
* climax community
Shed snow easily
Retain needles through winter
* Can photosynthesize in winter if temperature rises
above freezing
Needles have thick waxy coatings
* Resist cold conditions
* Reduce water loss
Conical shape helps capture insolation at low
sun angles
Dark color helps to absorb maximum heat
What happens to a Canopy as you move south
Becomes closed
