Download Coniferous Forests

Coniferous
Forests
By Hannah Dawson,
Shivali Kohli
And Hannah Leyland
Introduction
Other names for the
coniferous forests are
Boreal and Taiga.
These forests cover
approximately 15% 0f the
Earths surface.
There are two types of
coniferous forests: Open
lichen woodland with trees
spaced far apart with lichen
in-between, and Closed
forests which has trees
close together with moss
underneath.
Location
Coniferous forests are found across North
America, Northern Europe and Northern
Asia.
Climate
There are strong seasonal variations in a coniferous forest’s
climate. Sometimes it can vary by 100oF. It has a cool, short
summer, and a very cold, long, dry winter. Some forests in
lower locations have a much wetter winter. The average
rainfall can be 300-900mm annually. In some extreme forest,
the rainfall is 2,000mm.
Threats
There are many threats to the coniferous forests such as:
Clear-cut logging is the biggest threat to the Coniferous
forests. To replant after logging single-species conifer
monocultures, which is not conducive to species biodiversity.
Clear-cutting can accelerate soil erosion and degrades wildlife
habitats, leading to the loss of biodiversity. Then land is being
cleared for ski-slopes, landfills, housing, new roads, etc.
The rain in many areas of the world has become more acidic.
These pollutants come from coal burning and power plants The
tees die and stand like grey skeletons against the sky due to
the acid rain.
Threats Continued…
High- intensity hunting and trapping, has reduced
many populations of fur-bearing animals.
Mining operation are a threat to the forests
because of the chemicals used in mining, and the
silt released by mining.
Road construction destroys the forest and also
acts as a barrier to the wildlife. Roads isolate the
population of the species, from feeding grounds,
natural migration routes and limits breeding
between larger groups.
As the Earth’s population continues to increase
and people continue to move out of the city and
into the suburbs, more and more Boreal forests will
be lost in urbanization.
Plants
Many species are becoming extinct and something needs to be
done soon. To many, it is apparent that today there is an
extinction crisis. By destroying habitats, polluting the land, air,
water and promoting the spread of exotic species humans have
increased extinction to alarming rates.
Many 'at risk species' are plants. Plants play an important role
in ecosystems. Through photosynthesis they provide food for
animals. Plants are an important energy source for the entire
ecosystem. Plants at risk of extinction, or some rare plants, are
indicators of the overall health of an ecosystem. If a plant
becomes rare, or a previously rare plant begins to decline
dramatically, it is usually an indication of some type of
imbalance within the ecosystem.
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Animals
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Ants
Foxes
Hares
Wolves
Badgers
Eagles
Beavers
Bears
Geese
Hawks
Weasels
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Deer
Earthworms
Owls
Lemmings
Lynx
Moose
Mosquitoes
Squirrels