Location and Climate of the Boreal Forest..
The boreal forest biomes are found in the northern hemisphere between 45° and 65° north latitude across Canada and between 55° and 65° north latitude in Russia, Finland and Scandinavia. Climate in the boreal forest is cold, with average annual temperatures from about +5° to -35°C (below freezing half of the year). Precipitation varies, from about 20 cm of precipitation per year to over 85 cm. Much of the precipitation is in the form of snow. The winters are cold and long; summers are usually short and cool. With snowmelt and low temperatures, there is little evaporation in the summer, so the ground is usually very moist during the 50 day growing season.
The boreal forest biomes are found in the northern hemisphere between 45° and 65° north latitude across Canada and between 55° and 65° north latitude in Russia, Finland and Scandinavia. Climate in the boreal forest is cold, with average annual temperatures from about +5° to -35°C (below freezing half of the year). Precipitation varies, from about 20 cm of precipitation per year to over 85 cm. Much of the precipitation is in the form of snow. The winters are cold and long; summers are usually short and cool. With snowmelt and low temperatures, there is little evaporation in the summer, so the ground is usually very moist during the 50 day growing season.
Physical features..
The terrain is often rough. There are many marshes, shallow lakes, and wetlands that hold vast amounts of water. The soil is very wet because of the snowmelt and low temperatures.
The terrain is often rough. There are many marshes, shallow lakes, and wetlands that hold vast amounts of water. The soil is very wet because of the snowmelt and low temperatures.
Plant adaptations..
The boreal forest is mainly made up of coniferous trees; (eg. Black/White Spruce, Pine and Fir) with small, pointed, thick waxy needles to minimize water loss and shed snow easily. There aren't too many understory plants because very little light reaches the forest floor in a fir/spruce forest.
The boreal forest is mainly made up of coniferous trees; (eg. Black/White Spruce, Pine and Fir) with small, pointed, thick waxy needles to minimize water loss and shed snow easily. There aren't too many understory plants because very little light reaches the forest floor in a fir/spruce forest.
Animal adaptations..
Small mammals such as chipmunks and shrews burrow in the winter to stay warm. Large mammals such as moose have thick insulating coats and large bodies that enable them to retain their body heat throughout the winter. The fur of snowshoe hares(in the picture above) changes from brown in the summer, to white in the winter; this camouflages them from predators such as lynx and bobcats.
Small mammals such as chipmunks and shrews burrow in the winter to stay warm. Large mammals such as moose have thick insulating coats and large bodies that enable them to retain their body heat throughout the winter. The fur of snowshoe hares(in the picture above) changes from brown in the summer, to white in the winter; this camouflages them from predators such as lynx and bobcats.
