Many people are unfamiliar with the terrestrial biome known as the taiga. Taiga is the Russian word for “forest.” This habitat is, in fact, found in the needle-leaf forests of the planet. It is also called the boreal forest. Taigas of the world are areas of coniferous trees with patches of permafrost often found at high elevation. The taiga is a harsh environment with fewer plant and animals species than more temperate areas of the globe.
Definition
The taiga is a forested area located between 50 degrees latitude north and the Arctic Circle. It is a region of cold temperatures for most of the year, little rainfall and harsh winds. Many of the taiga biomes of the planet were once covered with glaciers that have now disappeared, leaving depressions in the surface of the Earth that fill with water to create bogs.
Geographical Distribution
The taiga biome is found between the northern tundra areas and the temperate forests found further south. In the North America, the taiga biome is found in Canada and Alaska. In Europe, taiga covers most of Sweden, Norway and Finland. In Asia the taiga biome covers parts of northern Russia, Siberia, northern Japan and northern Mongolia. Often the term “taiga” is used for the more barren areas of these regions, while the term “boreal forest” is used for the thickly, forested areas.
Variations in Soil Surface
Many areas of taiga are covered with a permanently frozen soil structure called “permafrost.” Other areas that are generally in warmer, southern areas of the taiga band have patches of ground where several inches of surface layer of permafrost have melted. This variation can cause differences in the type and amount of life forms that can grow and survive in the taiga areas. The soil is thin, acidic and low in nutrient quality.
Climate of the Taiga
The climate of the taiga is sub-arctic, with long, severe winters that last up to 6 months of the year. Temperatures can remain below freezing during this time, and often dips to –65 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer temperatures can range from 30 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rainfall in the Taiga
The mean average precipitation in the taiga biome is around 15 to 20 inches. Most of the rainfall occurs during the summer months. Low evaporation makes it a humid climate. Summer rains fill the low depressions left by receding glaciers, creating boggy areas where many types of wildlife congregate.
Plants of the Taiga
The harsh conditions of the taiga can support few varieties of plants, but coniferous trees grow in abundance there. These evergreens have thin, waxy needles that give them protection from the cold and from drying winds. The dark color of the evergreens also allows them to absorb more heat from the sun so that they can begin photosynthesis as soon as temperatures warm. Deciduous larch, cottongrass and sphagnum moss can be found in the lower, boggy areas. Areas covered by permafrost will often only support mosses and lichens.
Animals of the Taiga
Wolverines, lynx, bobcat, minks, ermine, beaver and snowshoe rabbits make their home in the inhospitable climate of the taiga. Large mammals such as bear, elk and moose can also be found there. A wide variety of insects can survive in the taiga biome, attracting large numbers of migratory birds in the summer months.
The taiga biome, though not as harsh as the world’s tundras, still present challenges for the survival of organisms that inhabit these areas. Only those species can adapt to the constant, freezing temperatures and winter darkness can prevail.
