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Post by Tata on Feb 13, 2008 14:54:18 GMT -8
The taiga is a biome mostly consisting of needle leaf forests. It sustains an average temperature of below freezing. During winter the temperature maintains a range of -54 to -1° C. In summer the temperature becomes warmer with a range of -7° to 21° C. Animals in the taiga have a choice of hibernating in the winter, flying south if they can, or just cooperating with the environment, which can very difficult.
Some animals that make their home in this harsh area are lynx, wolverines, bobcat, minks and ermine. These animals hunt smaller pray such as snowshoe rabbits, red squirrels and voles. Red deer, elk, and moose can also be found in regions of the taiga where more deciduous trees live. Many insect eating birds come to the taiga to breed, but only stay for the breeding season. Seed eaters like finches and sparrows, and other birds like crows stay all year. They have learned to adapt to the taiga’s circumstances.
One of the taiga’s imperfect characteristics is that its soil is young and nutrient-poor; it lacks the deep, organically-enriched soil that enhances plant growth. This problem is largely due to the very cold temperatures, and the acidity of the fallen pine needles.
Pine trees, though, are one of the types of trees that are sturdy enough to prosper in the taiga. Other trees living there are mostly coniferous, dominated by larch, spruce, fir, and pine. These species of trees have adaptations specifically for survival in harsh taiga winters. Taiga trees tend to have shallower roots than other trees in order to take advantage of the thin soils. Many of them seasonally alter their biochemistry to make them more resistant to freezing; this is called “hardening.”
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Post by mallory on Feb 14, 2008 14:21:17 GMT -8
The taiga is a biome mostly consisting of needle leaf forests. It sustains an average temperature of below freezing. During winter the temperature maintains a range of -54 to -1° C. In summer the temperature becomes warmer with a range of -7° to 21° C. Animals in the taiga have a choice of hibernating in the winter, flying south if they can, or just cooperating with the environment, which can very difficult.
Some animals that make their home in this harsh area are lynx, wolverines, bobcat, minks and ermine. These animals hunt smaller pray such as snowshoe rabbits, red squirrels and voles. Red deer, elk, and moose can also be found in regions of the taiga where more deciduous trees live. Many insect eating birds come to the taiga to breed, but only stay for the breeding season. Seed eaters like finches and sparrows, and other birds like crows stay all year. They have learned to adapt to the taiga’s circumstances.
One of the taiga’s imperfect characteristics is that its soil is young and nutrient-poor; it lacks the deep, organically-enriched soil that enhances plant growth. This problem is largely due to the very cold temperatures, and the acidity of the fallen pine needles.
Pine trees, though, are one of the types of trees that are sturdy enough to prosper in the taiga. Other trees living there are mostly coniferous, dominated by larch, spruce, fir, and pine. These species of trees have adaptations specifically to help them survive in harsh taiga winters. Taiga trees tend to have shallower roots than other trees in order to take advantage of the thin soils. Many of them seasonally alter their biochemistry to make them more resistant to freezing; this is called “hardening.”
Three things we learned…
1. The taiga is the largest biome in the world.
2. Most of the precipitation in the taiga comes during the summer months.
3. The taiga is also referred to as the boreal or coniferous forests.
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Post by mallory on Feb 14, 2008 14:37:05 GMT -8
Stresses:
Stress 1: Cold temperatures. The taiga, as you have learned, sustains a very cold temperature during the winter. Because of this, plants tend to be thin and grow close together. This also gives them protection from the cold and wind.
Stress 2: Wild fires. During the summer months, the taiga is extremely susceptible to wild fires. After many years of this occurrence, trees began to grow thicker bark to protect themselves against the harsh flames.
Stress 3: Slow Decomposition. The cool temperatures in the taiga make decomposition difficult. This is responsible for the thin soil that is low in nutrients. This is also why the trees that grow in the taiga generally do not need deep roots.
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Post by Mallory on Feb 19, 2008 14:27:12 GMT -8
Bibliography:
"Earth Floor: Biomes." Enter for Educational Technologies. 204. Wheeling Jesuit University/NASA-Supported Classroom of the Future. 14 Feb. 2008 <http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/taiga.html>.
Planet Earth: Grasslands and Tundra. 1st ed. Vol. 5. Alexandria: Time-Life, 1985. 106-137.
Sayre, April P. Tiaga. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Brookfield: Twenty-First Century Books, 1994.
"Taiga." What's It Like Where You Live? 2002. Missouri Botanical Garden. 14 Feb. 2008 <http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/taiga/index.htm>.
"Taiga Biomes." Blue Planet Biomes. 2000. 14 Feb. 2008 <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm>.
W, S L. "R.U. Taiga." Radford.Edu. Oct. 1996. 14 Feb. 2008 <http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/taiga/taiga.html>.
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Post by mallory on Feb 19, 2008 14:37:35 GMT -8
Adaptations:
1. Hibernation: Some animals hibernate during the cold winter months in the taiga.
2. Migration: Many migratory birds come to the taiga to nest and feed on the huge insect population.
3. Self Insulation: Other animals have adapted to the cold temperatures by producing a layer of insulating feathers, fur, or fat to protect them from the cold.
4. Seasonal change in color of feathers or fur: Certain organisms will change the appearance of their feathers or fur to protect itself from its predators by blending in with the environment.
5. Change in leaf structure: Different trees in the taiga will transform their leaves from broadleaf to narrow needle-like leafs in order to limit water loss through transpiration. Less water loss will lead to a healthier tree that is better prepared to fight off the cold.
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Post by Mallory on Feb 20, 2008 14:55:22 GMT -8
The taiga is a biome home to a group of hardy producers such as the blueberry bush, sphagnum moss, and lichen. These plants are the base of all life in the taiga. The blueberry bush is one of the many fruit bushes that can withstand the taiga’s temperature, and provide tasty berries for the other organisms. Blueberries, especially wild species, contain anthocyanins, other antioxidant pigments and other phytochemicals which can lessen the risk of some diseases, including different cancers. This plant gives vital nutrition to its consumers.
Another important producer in the taiga is a fungus called lichen.
Lichen is quite a remarkable organism because it can grow in locations impossible for most plants, such as bare rock or sand. This feature gives it the ability to survive the harsh environments of the taiga, and offer its consumers a strong serving of carbohydrates. Some organisms in the taiga will use lichen for nesting and as a water source during winter.
Lichen is an essential part of the taiga’s ecosystem.
Lastly, a type of moss known as sphagnum offers itself to the organisms living in the taiga. Sphagnum moss is an integral member of the producer family in the taiga because it gives much needed nutrients to the soil all year round. It helps other producers flourish as well, because it increases moisture content into the soil. During the cold winters in the taiga, the Sphagnum moss acts as an insulator to animals that use it in their bedding. Without sphagnum moss, the taiga would not be able to sustain the life it does.
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Post by Mallory on Feb 21, 2008 14:49:44 GMT -8
Did you know…?
- The worlds oldest trees are the bristlecone pines. One of them is 4,600 years old, and it is located in a Taiga.
- Needles actually help keep coniferous trees warm during the winter.
- A biome is a major nonliving community characterized by the top forms of plant life and the prevailing climate.
- The trunks of the conifer trees that are found in the taiga are used to make paper. (Like the stuff you use to write on in school or at home.)
- Taiga really means "Lord of little sticks." Taiga is a Russian word for a marshy pine forest.
- Taiga biomes are found in Canada, Europe, Asia and the US
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Post by Imorta Thaw on Feb 25, 2008 14:52:28 GMT -8
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Post by Mallory on Feb 26, 2008 14:41:30 GMT -8
"Eagle." Wikipedia. 25 Feb. 2008. 26 Feb. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle>.
"Earthworm." Zoomschool. 2008. Enchanted Learning. 26 Feb. 2008 <http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/invertebrates/earthworm/Earthwormcoloring.shtml>.
"Grizzly Bear." Wikipedia. 23 Feb. 2008. The Bancroft Library, the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. 26 Feb. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear>.
"Mosquito." Zoomschool. 2008. Enchanted Learning. 26 Feb. 2008 <http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/insects/mosquito/>.
"Owl." Wikipedia. 26 Feb. 2008. Yale University. 26 Feb. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owl>.
"Reindeer." Wikipedia. 18 Feb. 2008. University of Alaska Fairbanks. 26 Feb. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodland_caribou>.
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Post by Imorta Thaw on Feb 26, 2008 14:45:46 GMT -8
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Post by Mallory on Feb 26, 2008 14:50:21 GMT -8
"Crow." Wikipedia. 24 Feb. 2008. Queensland University. 26 Feb. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow>.
"Earthworm." Wikipedia. 26 Feb. 2008. 26 Feb. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthworm>.
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Post by Imorta Thaw on Feb 26, 2008 14:54:16 GMT -8
Eagle - The eagle is an extremely powerful bird of prey. They have very little trouble catching their food, as their enormous wings allow them to fly great distances in short periods of time. Their eyesight is also very well developed. The eagle's talons and beak are his primary weapon.
While their large size gives eagles the title 'Royalty of the sky', it can also be a hindrance. Large birds need a large food supply, and while the Taiga's summers are fertile enough, the winters are brutal. Instead of risking starvation and staying in that hostile environment, eagles generally head for warmer climates during the winter.
Owl - Lions live in packs, humans live in groups, but when owls get together, it is called a parliament. This is likely a tribute to their considerable intelligence. Owls can tell were their prey is simply by hearing the softest rustle. They themselves are silent in flight.
The owl fills a large niche in the Taiga food chain. They are nocturnal hunters and keep in check the population of rodents which also prefer darkness. Like eagles, owls do not stay in the Taiga during the winter, opting for warmer climates instead.
Grizzly bear - Mostly found in the Canadian Taiga, Grizzlies manage to survive as far north as Alaska. Their thick fur help keep them warm, and their diet makes it easier to get food. Grizzly bears are omnivores and will eat absolutely everything.
Instead of hightailing it out of the Taiga during the winter, bears hibernate. First, they gorge on food, and then they go into a sleep like state during which they use very little energy. This tecnique is perfect of the freezing winters of the Taiga and it's fertile summers.
Reindeer - Reindeer are also known as caribou in certain parts of the world. It lives specifically in the Taiga region and has evolved many specific adaptations to survive. Being a herbivore is very rewarding, energy wise, as it doesn't need to each as much as carnivores since their is more energy stored in plants.
The Reindeer has also evolved large nostrils. This helps warm the incoming air so that it doesn't cool down the body as much. They also have amazing hooves. In the winter, when the soil is moist and spongy, the hooves of a reindeer will absorb moister in order to provide extra traction. In the winter, they shrink and harden, allowing the reindeer to dig them into the ice to prevent slipping. They are also useful for digging through the hard soil.
Though Reindeer mostly feed on lichen and tree leaves, their is some evidence of them possibly eating meat. However this probably only occurs as a last resort.
Crow - The crow is one of the few birds that doesn't fly south for the winter. It is extremely intelligent, and omnivorous. Though generally black, these birds can blend in in the Taiga due to the countless trees and rocks.
Crows have long been the subject of myths and legends. They are generally portrayed as bringers of death and evil omens. But even the ancients acknowledged this birds superior intelligence.
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