The Boreal Forest Biome

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The Boreal Forest Biome
2
Zoology in the Boreal Forest

• We have chosen 3 animals that live in boreal
  forests that have adapted well to their
  environment.
• First is the Snowshoe Hare.
• Next the Amur Tiger (AKA Siberian Tiger)
• And finally the Elk.

3
The Snowshoe Hare

• Of the animals I researched, I believe the
  Snowshoe hare has adapted the best to its
  environment.
• The snowshoe hares coat changes from brown to
  white as winter enters the Boreal Forests to help
  hide it from predators, such as the red fox.
• As seen in the picture, the
• Snowshoe Hare has enlarged feet
• which help it move in the snow.

4
The Amur Tiger

• The Amur Tigers thick fur helps keep it warm
  during winter in the boreal forests.

5
The Elk

• The elk not only has thicker fur, but larger
  amounts of fat and muscle to keep it warm.
• During the winter when vegetation is scarce, the
  elk can live off bark and small amounts of leaves
  and grass.

6
Geography Of The Boreal Forests

• Also known as the Taiga, Boreal forests can not
  be found anywhere in the southern hemisphere.
• Boreal forests are one of the largest biomes in
  the world, covering almost 6800 miles across the
  northern hemisphere.
• While mostly in Russia
  and Canada, the Boreal
  forests also
  branch
  down mountains, such
  as the
  Appalachians
  and the Alps.

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Botany of Boreal Forests

• The botany of boreal forests are not quite
  diverse.
• Many of the trees are coniferous trees.
• Broadleaf trees, such as birches, aspens,
  willows, and rowans, can be found in the taiga.
• There are also many types of lichen, the most
  common being British Soldiers.
  (Shown in
  photo)

8
Meteorology Of Boreal Forests

• The average annual temperature in a boreal forest
  is -5 Celsius to 5 Celsius (23 F-41 F)
• Boreal Forests have long winters of about 6
  months.
• The growing season in boreal forests are 3 months
  long.
• Due to the lack of evaporation, boreal forests
  have moist or even swampy soil.
• All summers in the boreal biome are short and
  cool.

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Human Influence on Boreal Forests

• Exploration and the development of oil/gas
  reserves are destroying boreal forests.
• Boreal forests are very slow to regrow and
  logging is a major threat to these forests.
• Large areas of boreal
  forest have also been
  
  flooded as part of
  hydroelectric projects,
  such as
  the one shown to
  the right.

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Sites Used

• http//www.marietta.edu/biol/biomes/boreal.htm
• http//scienceray.com/biology/botany/taiga