Day 1 Map and Description

The Russian/Scandinavian taiga forests are one of the coldest areas on Earth. On Average,
there are 45-180 days where the temperature is above5 degrees Celcius, . Summers in the
taiga are very brief, as for a large part of the year, the Sun does not rise above the horizon.
However, in Winter, temperatures can drop to -68 degrees Celsius , and the average is
around 50 degrees Celsius. Spring and Autumn do not stay for long in the cold and lonely
taiga.
The soil in the taiga is very
thin, and lacks nutrients. The
trees all grow close to the
ground, and roots do not go far
into the soil.. The trees are mostly
coniferous, and moss and bogs
appear quite often . There are
also many species of animals and
birds in the taiga.
The Taiga is situated between the Tundra in the north and the
more temperate forests of the south. It takes up approximately
2,157,000 square kilometres and covers parts of Russia, Sweden,
Finland and Norway.
There are many national parks in the Russian/Scandinavian taiga in all four
countries it goes through. The tribes living in this area are mainly ranchers
who live in the tundra and herd reindeer for food.
Climate Graph for
the Taiga
 Day 2 Geographical Processes
Atmospheric Processes The high latitudes of the taiga
means that in Winter, the Sun does not rise much above
the horizon, with only 6 hours of daylight. However, also
due to the high latitudes there are very long Summer
days, with up to 20 hours of sunlight. The taiga receives
very little precipitation each year, as rain, fog or snow.
Hydrologic Processes- Clear-cutting is a very common form
of logging which occurs in the taiga. It removes the trees,
therefore increasing the possibility of erosion and
flooding. Without the trees roots, the soil can be blow
away and therefore exposing the bedrock and permafrost
underneath, which does not support life.
Biotic Processes Many types of animals live in the taiga, and they are
all very well adapted to the unforgiving climate. Many small rodents live
along the grounds of the taiga, and are often hunted by the larger birds
of prey from above. Some smaller birds migrate south to warmer areas
during the Winter. One of the largest types of deer living in the taiga are
moose, who survive the harsh Winters living on the aquatic plants near
the bogs and streams. Bears and lynx are among one of the only
carnivorous living in the taiga, and they feed on moose and wild boar.
Lithospheric Processes The soil of the taiga is greatly affected by
the hydrologic processes in the taiga, as the soil is affected by
erosion and flooding. Bedrock and permafrost can be exposed,
and any fertile soil blown away. Animals walking over the soil
may also suffocate it and cause it to no longer support life.
 Day 3: Description of ecosystem and
food web
Abiotic Features: Abiotic features in the Taiga are also plentiful and
include sunlight, water and humidity, temperature, boulders and rocks,
soil, lightning and hail, salinity of water and pH balance of water.
Biotic Features: Biotic features in the Taiga include the wildlife. Some of
these are black bears, bald eagles, foxes, otters, wolverines, rabbits, and
many species of birds and insects. Vegetation also takes up a percentage of
the biotic features in the taiga, and these include Balsam Fir tree, Red
Cedar tree, Poplar trees and Spruce trees. There are also some groups of
humans around the area.
An endemic species in the taiga is the razorbill. It is a medium sized
water bird, black and white in colour, stout, with a rounded bill. The
wings of the bird allow it to work very well in the water. The feathers of the
bird are very important, and even the loss of one feather can deter flying,
so the razorbill moults all at once right after the breeding season, and is
flightless for quite a while.
Food Chain in the
Taiga
 Day 4: Human Impact
Major industries of the taiga include logging, mining, and hydroelectric
development.

Heavy machinery is used for

logging, and cause loss of habitat
and food as well as pollution to the
environment. Noise pollution is also
a problem.

Hydroelectricity plants are also implemented into

some areas of the taiga, and though it seems like
a good way to generate power, it disrupts the
steams and water systems of the taiga, and can
cause floods in some areas and a lack of
watering others.

Mining pollutes neighboring soils and

water, and possibly causing acid rains.
Noise pollution is also a concern of the
impact of mining in the area.
 Day 5: Vulnerability
Logging affects much of the taiga, taking away habitat, shelter and
food away from animals, as well as causing soil erosion. The trees
taken away also plays a part in the increasing amount of pollution
there is in the world. The vegetation in the taiga produces much of
our much needed oxygen.

Humans also hunt many species from the taigas covers for resources,
and are disrupting food webs in the areas. The furs and coats of big
animals like foxes and bears are often wanted, thus removing these
two animals from the food chain and causing problems further
down.

Climate change also endangers many things in the taiga. The

warming of the Earth is causing the permafrost to thaw, and it has
no way of draining. Few trees can take root in the areas where the
water is collecting. Animal life is also getting changed as the water
attracts non-native species to the taiga, which ruins its food chains
and webs.
 Bibliography
National Geographic Education, 2015, taiga, accessed
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/taiga/?ar_a=1
McDougal, Wendy, 2015, Taiga Biome : Animals, Plants, Climate & Locations, accessed
http://study.com/academy/lesson/taiga-biome-animals-plants-climate-locations.html
C.E.W. 25th Feb, 2010, Boreal Forest/ Taiga Biome PowerPoint, accessed
https://www.scribd.com/doc/27429379/Boreal-Forest-Taiga-Biome-PowerPoint
Jhingut, Aliyah 9 June 2014, Alvin, accessed
https://prezi.com/zk9drse2lig8/alvin/
ri.net, Taiga, accessed
http://www.ri.net/schools/West_Warwick/manateeproject/Taiga/pands.htm
Ted Case Studies, 1997, Taiga Deforestation accessed
http://www1.american.edu/ted/TAIGA.HTM
Pilskan, Harold, 2001, Boreal Forest Climate, Accessed
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga_climate.htm
Ducksters, April 2015, Taiga Forest Biome, accessed 18 April
http://www.ducksters.com/science/ecosystems/taiga_forest_biome.php
Softschools.com, 2015, Taiga Biome Facts. accessed
http://www.softschools.com/facts/biomes/taiga_biome_facts/162/
Wheeling Jesuit University, April 2005, Taiga, accessed
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/taiga.html
The Moscow News, April 2011, Saving the taiga - one tree at a time, accessed
http://themoscownews.com/bizfeature/20110425/188614083.html
Cinader, Agatha, 2015, Saving our Boreal Forest, accessed
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/saving-our-boreal-forest