Coniferous Forests (Taiga)
Cold, wet climates are ideal conditions for Conifers, needle leaf trees, such as pine trees. Coniferous Forest Biome is one of the largest on Earth. Winters in Coniferous Forests are long and cold, and most of the precipitation falls in the summer. Marshes, lakes, and ponds are prominent and are fringed by willows and birches. Most of the few species of trees tend to occur in dense strands of one or only a few species. many large mammals live in this biome, including herbivores such as elk, moose, and deer. Carnivores of Coniferous Forests include wolfs, bears, lynxes, and wolverines.
In the past 50 years, high levels of commercial logging have reduced the forests to about 10% of their original size. many of the forests have been cleared by a logging method called clear-cutting. Clear-cutting means that all the trees in an area are cut down and only stumps remain behind. Clear-cutting damages the forests eco-system in several ways. many plants and animals that depend on the trees. The trees in undisturbed areas nearby are exposed to the damaging effects of wind and sun. Animals living on the edges of clear-cut areas are exposed to predators. Streams become polluted by topsoil that is washed into them from exposed areas.
Pictures courtesy of: http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/taiga/index.htm
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