Handout Taiga: Tim, Jessica, Norbert, Yasin

02/Location and Characteristics

02.1/ Distribution

The Taiga is a belt of vegetation that spans Eurasia (Russia and Southward into NE China and Mongolia) and North America (much of Canada and
Alaska) from their Atlantic to their Pacific Coasts. Its position is generally controlled by the warmth during the growing season, temperature of soil
and extreme minimum winter temperature.

Zones:

 Closed-canopy Forest:
 Southernmost portion
 Greatest richness of species, warmest soils, highest productivity
 Lichen Woodland / Sparse Taiga:
 North of Closed-canopy Forest
 Tree crowns do not form closed canopy
 Ground cover: mostly lichen mats and tundra like vegetation
 Forest-Tundra
 Noth of sparse Taiga
 Patches of trees consist of only a few species

02.2/ Climate:

 Coldness is the dominant climatic factor

 Sun is never 90° (overhead)
 Maximum solar angle decreases with increasing latitude
 Annual temperatures range from approx. -10°C -- +20°C => likely to form permafrost
 Siberian cold air flows over unfrozen northern Pacific. Due to the temperature contrast westward-moving storm systems form

Growing season

 Growing season is estimated by using the period of the year when 24-hour avg.temperature is =< +5°C
 Warmest month, July, generally between 15°C and 20°C

Precipitation

 Centre of continents: 30-50 cm annual precipitation

 Semiarid regions (low elevation): 30 cm or less
 Highest annual precipitation (100 cm and more): eastern North America and northern Europe

02.3/ Soils

 Soils of the more humid and southern taiga: highly leached spodosols
 Soils in much of boreal western North America and Asia are inceptisols
 Thin surface salt deposits are found in the most arid portions of the taiga

03/Flora and Fauna

03.1/Flora

 The taiga is home to such tree species as pine, spruce, larch, sequoia, deciduous and dark coniferous cedars, fir and mountain ash.
 The forests consist of tall trees, which creates a special atmosphere and shade. The needles of trees are one of the features of the taiga flora.
o They contain substances that help plants survive in the harsh climate.
 These trees have adapted to poor climate conditions and grow in swamps and horizons with infertile soil.

03.2/Fauna

 The fauna of taiga is richer and more diverse than that of tundra, but poorer than that of broad-leaved and mixed forests.
 The lynx, wolverine, wolf, fox, brown bear, otter, sable, weasel, ermine, etc. are widespread; hares, borers, rodents: beavers, chipmunks,
mice, voles, squirrels and voles are numerous.
 Among ungulates there are reindeer, red deer, elk, roe deer, musk deer (in Siberia), forest bison (in Canada) and wapiti (in North America
and the Far East).
 More than 300 species of birds nest in the taiga. Grouse, common ruffed grouse, pine grouse, pincushions, ticks, several species of
woodpeckers and owls are common.
 In the taiga forest, compared to the forest tundra, the conditions for animal life are more favourable. There are more sedentary animals
here.

03.3/Impact of climate and humans on flora and fauna

  Alteration of the taiga by humans (logging, fires, mining) causes significant changes in the fauna - reduction in the number of traditional
species, introduction of new species, and the introduction of new species.
 Taiga ecosystems are threatened by direct human activity and climate change. Animals of the taiga, such as foxes or bears, have always
been hunted.
 Their warm fur and tough skin, turned into leather, have helped people survive in harsh climates for thousands of years.
 Clearcutting is the most popular type of logging in taigas. Clearcutting involves cutting down all the trees in a designated area. This
destroys habitats for many organisms that live in and around the trees, and makes it difficult for new trees to grow.
 Climate change puts taigas in danger in different ways. Warming climate contributes to a partial thawing of the permafrost. Since this water
has no place to drain, more area of the taiga is taken over by muskegs. Few trees take root.

03.4/Conservation and protection of flora and fauna

 Young and old conservation organisations and scientific institutions around the world are focusing on conserving the taiga and preventing
potential threats to the area.
 Special attention is paid to the protection of taiga plant communities. Of great importance is the preservation of trees such as Siberian
spruce, pine, larch, birch, poplar and birch groves.
 The protection of plants and plant communities of the taiga is aimed at preserving and restoring the richness of the vegetation cover.
 Valuable species such as rowanberries, blueberries and many others are of particular importance to the animals that feed and live in these
forests.
 To preserve the fauna of the taiga, measures are taken to protect species such as tiger, deer, bear, lynx and many others.
 The establishment of reserves, sanctuaries and protected areas allows the conservation of their natural habitats and effective management
of their populations.

04/ Human Impact on Taiga

04.1/ Industry

 Logging Industry
o cut down trees for wood and paper products
o the establishment of non-native trees can disrupt local ecosystems
o "Clearcutting" destroys the homes of many creatures, causes floods and soil problems
 Mining Industry
o changes the landscape
o pollutes rivers and the ground
 Infrastructure Development
o cuts through the forest, which can disrupt how animals move
 Urbanization
o through expandation, more forest needs to be cleared
o non-native animals and plants move easier in and harm native species

04.2/Climate Change

 Releasing greenhouse gases

 Permafrost starts to thaw slightly
 Few trees can grow
 Native species are forced to leave, while non-native species move in
 Warmer temperature disrupts the homes of animals
o Example: Siberian Tiger
 Pests start to invade
o Example: Bark beetle

04.3/Acid Rain

 Happens when pollution mixes with clouds and falls as rain

 Harms trees and wildlife
 Trees become weak and poisoned
 Has negative impact on the whole ecosystem