Biosphere Contents

6. Biomes

Taiga or Boreal forest is the name of the broad zone of coniferous forest which lies north of the temperate forest zone

Taiga, Vuya-Yany River

The climate in the taiga is characterised by cold winters, often with heavy snowfall. Low temperatures in the winter mean that there is little available water and the taiga is physiologically a desert. In the Southern Hemisphere, little of the land area extends to high enough latitudes to support extensive taiga but a somewhat comparable ecosystem can be found in South America and Australia dominated by evergreen trees.

Low diversity characterises the organisms living in the taiga. Tree species are dominated by conifers, although some deciduous trees can be found such as aspen, alder and birch. The conifers' needle-like leaves are adapted to reduce water loss. They do not shed their leaves in winter. Unlike the temperate forests, leaf litter decomposes slowly because the low temperatures inhibit bacterial activity. Organic acids in the abundant leaf litter make the soil acidic with very little ground flora.

Map of the Taiga biome

Diversity of animals is less than in the temperate forests although bears, lynxes, rabbits, a variety of birds and members of the mustelid family - weasels, martins and wolverines - inhabit the taiga. The diversity of insects and amphibians is also low.

What are the main characteristics of the taiga biome?