Taiga Characteristics & Adaptations
- The taiga makes up 30% of all forested areas in the world
- All parts of the taiga ecosystem are interdependent
- A change in one part affects others
- The interdependence of the taiga components means that when one element is affected it then impacts all the other components
- A decline in one species (especially if it is a keystone species) can lead to a decline in other species
- Salmon are a keystone species in the taiga
- They provide an essential food source for bears and wolves
- Wolf diets can be almost 50% salmon
- If the salmon are affected by disease or can no longer migrate back up stream due to a barrier like a dam, the food source is depleted
- This impacts on the wolf population
- Scots Pine is another keystone species
- Squirrels, voles and mice rely on the pine cones as a food source
- The deep ridges on the bark provide habitats for many insects as well as lichens and mosses
- The insects provide food for many birds and small mammals
- Reduction in the numbers of Scots pine can have a dramatic impact on the food web
- Plant and animal species populations may decline
Taiga climate
- The taiga has:
- Long, cold winters (January average -10oC)
- Temperatures can reach -50oC
- Short, wet summers (July average 15-20oC)
- Summers only last three months
- Low levels of precipitation (380-650mm annually)
- Long, cold winters (January average -10oC)
Taiga climate
Adaptations of Plants and Animals in a Taiga Climate
| Plants | Animals |
| Needle-shaped leaves: the needle shape and waxy covering reduces water loss (transpiration) and frost damage | Thickly oily fur: moose and bears have thick oily fur which helps to keep them warm |
| Cone shaped: this helps the trees shed snow in the winter | Hibernation: a number of animals including the brown bear, chipmunks and squirrels hibernate during the winter months |
|
Flexible branches: bend so that they don't break under the weight of the snow and allow the snow to fall off |
Migration: some animals migrate to lower latitudes during the winter months, such as the Canada goose and caribou |
| Wide, shallow roots: avoid the frozen ground but are wide to support the trees and anchor them in strong winds | Feet: the taiga is often snow covered and some animals feet are adapted to move quickly and effectively through the snow. Caribou have large hooves and the pads turn hard in winter |
| Seeds in cones: the cones surround the seeds to protect them from the intense cold | Summer and winter coats: to ensure camouflage in both winter and summer some animals have brown fur/hair in summer and white in winter such as the snowshoe hare |
- Taiga has a low level of biodiversity
- The cold, dry climate means that the growing season is limited to a couple of months
- There is only one layer of vegetation - trees, with mosses and lichens growing on the trees
- The soil is highly acidic
- Nutrient cycling is slow which leads to slow plant growth
Worked example
Study figure 1,
The diagram shows how coniferous trees are adapted to their environment.
State how two of these characteristics are adaptations to the environment.
(2 marks)
Answer:
- Triangular/conical shape – protects tree from damage from heavy snow (falls off) (1)
- Evergreen – allows instant photosynthesis in short growing season as temperature rises (1)
- Needle like leaves - reduces transpiration (1)
- Cones – protect seeds from intense cold (1)
- Wide shallow roots – allow tree to survive above permafrost in shallow soils (1) or anchors tree in shallow soil to survive strong winds (1)
