Coniferous Forest

Published by EBEST55
May 4, 2009, Category: Ecology

The basic breakdown of a coniferous forest.

Coniferous forests contain many of the most beautiful areas of the earth. They are full of multiple species of plants and animals as well as natural resources. Life flourishes in an attempt to deal with the position of the globe and the climate that makes up the coniferous forest. Just like all biomes a coniferous forest has its special and unique qualities, and species are able to adapt and evolve to survive.

The climate of a coniferous forest is vast and can be way different with the change of a season. Temperatures range from negative thirty degrees Celsius all the way up to twenty degrees Celsius (South wildlife). As for the precipitation, anywhere from fifty to one hundred and twenty five centimeters fall each year (South wildlife). The growing season begins late in the spring and lasts to the very last days it is may be allowed in the late summer (South wildlife). In the northern areas this cycle can be as few as sixty days but in the southern lands it may be as long as hone hundred and fifty days (South wilflife). Summers are short and warm but winters are extremely cold and may last up to seven months of the year (South). In the spring the upper most layer of permafrost begins to thaw, creating a swampy bog like area (South wildlife). This collected water is however unable to drain away because the land consists of deep grooves, created by moving glaciers coming down from the north long ago (South wildlife). The water then pools together into amazing streams and lakes (South wildlife). The moisture is available then for evaporation and most of the year’s precipitation occurs in the summer and fall (South wildlife). The winter is a completely different story. Light can be very short and brief in the middle months and organisms have to take on many methods of staying warm just to survive (South wildlife). The climate can be very harsh and if not properly adapted, survival can be far out of reach for both animals and plants.

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The main thing that stands out when a person sees a forest is the vegetation. The most dominant plant in the coniferous forest are the coniferous trees, hence the name (South). A coniferous tree is also referred to as an evergreen, or one that keeps its color all year long (South). Evergreens are characterized by needle leaves and bearing seeds inside of a cone like structure (South). Some examples of evergreens are pine, fire, spruce, and hemlocks (South). Diversity is low in the coniferous forests and consists mainly of black spruce in the wetter areas and white spruce in the drier areas (Northern). The balsam fir may also be common in most regions spread in and out of the other plant life and is very susceptible to fire, bug damage, and fungi growth which may endanger other trees and give space for new trees (Northern). The scientific names for each of these are Picea Mariana, Picea Gluaca, and Abeis Balsamea respectively (Northern). The entire forest is covered in these evergreens except for the huge numbers of lakes and steams scattered about (Northern). This can make for a very difficult terrain to attempt to navigate through (Northern). The coniferous trees are the backbone of the coniferous forest and make life possible for the other species.

Location and physical environment really can make a difference in how a biome is set up. The coniferous forest is located far north, just below the tundra, in certain areas of North America, Asia, and Europe (South). The location being so far north is what causes the variety in seasons and much colder temperatures (South). Where a coniferous forest grows, the soil is very acidic (South wildlife). This creates the cycle in which the trees absorb the acidity, the water becomes acidic and the entire region is soon affected by the soil due to the growth of this forest (South wildlife). Species are forced to adapt with these conditions for survival (South wildlife). Other names often associated with the coniferous forest are the “taiga” and “boreal” forests (South wildlife). This is a biome that is very much unlike the other biomes all over earth and is very much an important part.

Animals contribute to the biome just as much as every other aspect involved. From birds such as the dipper (Cindus mericanus) or the red crossbill (Locla curvirostra) to the mammals like elk (Cervis elephus), least chipmunk (Tamious munimus), or the mule deer (Odocioleus hemones) every species is adapted to their individual niche (Author). Some specific adaptations are shown in the bobcat (Lynx Rufus) as in the winter it develops a white coat to camouflage itself for when approaching prey (Author). Another example is Clark’s Nutcracker which has developed a hard, broad beak for breaking open nut shells to obtain the fruit inside (Author). A great adaptation to see is the bear’s ability to hibernate. The cold weather is simply too much for the specie and it must gather foods and nutrients and hide away in a cave using limited energy until the temperature rises again (Author). Adapting is just each species way of learning to survive and grow in each individual biome.

Coniferous forests are full of diverse species of birds, mammals, and trees. They are able to flourish and grow in the acidic soil and harsh climate. If the conditions were ever to change the whole community of life would also change with it. The coniferous forest can be dense, swampy, cold, and miserable, but just like another place it has its good aspects and own types of life that can life in it.