Conifer Forests
So many trees!
Why Coniferous?
The Coniferous, or Conifer, forests were named the Conifer tree. This is because of the large number of Conifer trees found in this biome. Coniferous means cone bearing.
Location
- The United States
- Europe
- Asia
- Canada
Landscape
Mountains, valleys, and hills are nothing unusual in this biome. Streams and lakes can also be found in Conifer Forests.
Plants in Conifer Forests
The plants in Conifer Forests are unique. The low amount of precipitation and moisture cause them to have needles instead of broad leaves. These needles don't shed with in after the growing season. Some of the most dominating plants in this biome are pine, fir, conifer, and spruce trees. This biome is also home to one of the longest living trees on Earth, the giant sequoia
Climate
Conifer Forests can have a temperature of -40 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius. The winters harsh, cold, and long. The summers are humid and warm. In these forests precipitation varies from 20cm to over 200cm per year. The growing season is very short, only lasting for 3 months.
The Importance of fire
Fires are important to Conifer forests. Natural fires burn away dead plants and matter. This leaves behind nutrients that is used by new plants that will grow and replace what was burnt away.
Some Animals Found In Conifer Forests
Cougar
Cougars are one of the predators found in Conifer Forests.
Western Tanager
The western tanager is an American songbird that can be found in Conifer Forests.
Moose
You can expect to see a couple of moose, one of the many herbivores found in Conifer Forests, grazing on plants.
Summary
Conifer Forests, also known as Coniferous Forests, are beautiful places. They often have mountains, hills, and valleys. They can be found in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. These forests have long, cold winters and humid, warm summers. The low amount of moisture and precipitation in these forests cause the plants to have thin leaves or needles instead of broad leaves. Fires are destructive, but play an important role in these biomes.