Taiga
By: Jessamyn Gonzales
Taiga Plant Adaptations
- Many trees are evergreen so that plants can photosynthesize right away when temperatures rise.
- Many trees have needle-like leaves which shape loses less water and sheds snow more easily than broad leaves.
- Many trees have branches that droop downward to help shed excess snow to keep the branches from breaking.
Reproductive Adaptations
- Waxy coating on needle to prevent evaporation's.
- Needles stay dark in color which allows them to save more solar heat to be absorbed, so that when it snows the branches won't break.
Grasslands
Temperate Grassland Plant Adaptations
- During a fire, while above-ground portions of grasses may perish, the root portions survive to sprout again.
- Prairie shrubs readily resprout after fire.
- Extensive root systems prevent grazing animals from pulling roots out of the ground.
- Prairie grasses have narrow leaves which lose less water than broad leaves.
- Grasses grow from near their base, not from tip, thus are not permanently damages from grazing animals or fire.
Reproductive Adaptations
- Some prairie trees have thick bark to resist fire.
- Roots of prairie grasses extend deep into the ground to absorb as much moisture as they can.
- Many grasses take advantage of exposed, windy conditions and are wind pollinated.