Figure 1: Distribution of boreal forests around the world. Retrieved April 20, 2010 from http://www.boreal forest.org/world/images/world_boreal_forests.

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Tree canopy. Dominant trees include: Picea mariana, P. glauca, L. laricina, and A. balsamea. Production occurs primarily in the tree canopy. Understory. There is not much of an understory in the boreal forest, but as you can see, the needles on the trees are found all along the tree, from top to bottom.

Groundcover. The groundcover consists of grasses and mosses (bryophytes) that are water-tolerant and can live in acidic soils. Production also occurs at this level. Substrate. Soils are generally either podzols and spodosols in the boreal forest. They are wet, rich in OM, and are acidic. Decomposition occurs at this level. Figure 3: Vertical structure of boreal forest. Picture retrieved April 27, 2010 from http://www.fs.fed.us/ database/feis/animals/mammal/rata/taiga.jpg

Figure 3: Vertical structure of boreal forest ecosystem focusing on soil structure. This figure compares the boreal forest substrate with other ecosystems substrates. Retrieved April 26, 2010 from http://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~tbw/ncc/chap4.wc/soils/soil.profiles.jpg

Figure 4: Simple boreal forest food web and species interactions. Retrieved April 27, 2010 from http://www.pc.gc.ca/apprendre-learn/prof/itm2-crp-trc/htm/pukaskwaex_e.asp

Figure 5: Basic boreal forest ecosystem food chain representation. Retrieved April 27, 2010 from http://www.pc.gc.ca/apprendre-learn/prof/itm2-crp-trc/images/forestfoodweb01_e.gif