Taiga Ecology
Jenna Patton and Romina Manochahri
The taiga biome
Species and their adaptations!
Lingonberries (vaccinium vitis-idaea)
Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)
This flower is a low lying, "creeping" plant that lives in the taiga biome. This flower has a delicate bell shape and a light pink color.
Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
Purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea)
This plant is a purple colored, carnivorous plant. The taiga soil is very acidic and lack nitrogen, so these plants grow well in this area.
Cottongrass or cottonsedge (Eriophorum angustifolium)
Taiga Plant Adaptations
In the taiga biome, the sun normally hangs low in the sky and there isn't much nutrients in the soil. This makes having evergreen leaves a great adaptation. Growing new leaves takes a lot of energy, so with the little energy available to taiga plants, keeping their leaves in colder months is important. Another adaptation needed is a thicker to needle like leaf. In the winter months, the ground freezes over and roots are unable to take in water. Thicker leaves help with water conservation. The leaves are also drier and contain very little sap. This protects the leaves from freezing. Most leaves in the taiga also contain a chemical to keep animals from eating them. For trees. Stronger branches help uphold heavy amounts of precipitation and their cone-like shape lets snow role off of the tree instead of clumping together on it. Lastly, plants in the taiga biome must be able to live in highly acidic soil which makes up most if not all of the taiga biome.
Snowshoe hare-Lepus americanus
Brown bear-Urus arctos
Great horned owl-Bubo virginianus
Gray Wolf- Canis lupus
Moose- Alces alces
Red Squirrel- Sciurus vulgaris
Red fox-Vulpes vulpes
Minks-Neovision vison
Taiga Animal Adaptations
Migrate
Hibernate
Camouflage
Producing layers of fur (staying warm)
Defend them selfs (quills)
Relationships in the food web
The Lynx and the long-ears owl compete for a lot of the same food, including the snow-foot hare. Often times the Lynx would have to catch the hare and keep it from being stolen by the long-ears owl.
Predatation- Bear and salmon
The brown bear and the salmon are an example of Predatation because the bear hunts the salmon for food and the salmon has to avoid the bear to live.
Mutualism- Moss and tree
This is an example of mutualism because the moss protects the tree from harmful bugs and the tree gives the moss a shaded place to live and grow.
Commensalism- Birds and tree
This is an example of commensalism because the birds gain shelter from the tree, but the tree is neither harmed, nor benefited.
Parasitism- Brain worm and Caribou
This is an example of parasitism because the worm lives and feeds off of the caribou's brain while the caribou suffers pain and harm.
*Short summary of bottom columns*
In the second pictures grass has begun to grow along with small, low lying plants such as moss(if not already grown in primary succession) and cotton grass.
The third picture shows bushes and shrubs beginning to grow. Bigger flowering plants also begin to grow.
The last picture shows a climax ecosystem where trees begin to grow into forest.
Fun Facts!
1.The taiga biome is the largest terrestrial biome.
2.Taiga habitats inhabits millions of insects.
3.Temperature in the taiga can go as low as -60F.
4.Another name for taiga is boreal forest because it has so many trees.