Question 1: What Is A Biome?

A biome is a community that is natural and contains animals and plants. It is usally controlled by what the climate is like around it. A climate contains temperature, precipitation, wind, sun and air pressure. There are many different types of biomes such as deserts, tropical rain forests, temperate forests, grasslands, wetlands and coniferous forests (a.k.a. Taiga) which is what this blog is about. 

What is your favorite type of biome to be in?

Citation: World Book Dictionary Volume One A-K.

Question 2: What is Your Biome?

The Biome that this blog is about is the Coniferous Forest which is also known as Taiga. Usually in a Coniferous Forest the temperature is mostly cold. Extremly cold winds from the Arctic Circle bring freezing air to the forest. The Taiga Forest is not facing the sun in the winter because of the tilt of the Earth. Therefore, the ground doesn't really get any warmth. Winter in The Taiga Forests last for about six to seven months. Summer contains a lot of precipitation(rain) and is very hot and short. There is so much rain that the Taiga is sometimes refered to as a rain forest. Fall is the shortest season in the Conefirous Forest and in Spring the animals come out of hibernation and the flowers bud. It has about an average of 12 to 33 feet of rain fall which usually happens during the summer. The air in the summer is very humid and dry. The most important characteristic of the Coniferous Forests is their pointy cone shaped trees which are called conifer trees. These trees are green all year round and have cones instead of flowers. These kinds of trees include spruces, pines, and firs.

The biodiversity in Coniferous Forests is very high. There are many types of animals and plants. Some animals include wolves, deer, bears, bunnies, birds, etc. Some plants are mushrooms, moss, lichens, which are most likely the pioneer species, etc.

Do you think Coniferous Forests have enough biodiversity?

Citation: Biomes Atlases: Taiga. By: Trevor Day

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm

Question 3: The Siberian Taiga

The Siberian Taiga is a Coniferous Forest found in Eastern Siberia. In the Siberian Taiga it gets very hot in the summer. The animals that live here are very tough because they have to live in extreme climates. The Siberian Taiga is 20 degrees Latitude and 50 degrees Longitude. It is found in between the Yenisei River and Lena River. The Siberian Taiga contains four species of Amphibians and two species of Reptiles. There are 203 species of birds and 80 species of mammals. Forest fires is one threat to the Siberian Taiga.

Have you ever been to the Siberian Taiga?

Citation:http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0601.html
http://www.eoearth.org/article/East_Siberian_taiga

Question 4: What should I find Here?

In Coniferous Forests, you will find many conifer trees. Conifer trees include: spruce, pine, fir, cedar, redwood, cypress, etc. There should be a large variety of plants some of which are found on the conifer trees. Should you be walking through a Coniferous Forest, you may come across long eared owls, black bears, grey wolves, bald eagles, bobcats, canadian lynx, rabbits, etc. In coniferous forests, there are bodies of waters like lakes and swamps. There are many exciting things found in Coniferous Forests.

Would you find these things in  regular forest?

Citation: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga_animal_page.htm

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Question 5: Two Plants Found In This Biome

Two plants found in the Coniferous Forests are the Black Spruce and the Eastern Red Cedar . The Black Spruce is a tree that has pine cones. These pine cones contain tiny purplish-brown seeds that birds feed on. The birds get their nutrition from these seeds. This trees likes to stay in colder Taigas. These trees are able to live in colder environments because of their layered twigs, waxy pine needles, and rough bark. These things also help the tree stay protected against predators and forest fires. The Black Spruce is a wood commonly used for building houses.

The Eastern Red Cedar is a small evergreen that grows about ten to fifteen feet. It is odd that this tree is called a cedar because it is not a cedar but a juniper. The Eastern Red Cedar contains fruit that is food to animals such as, pheasants and Cedar Waxwings. A lot of animals use this tree for food and shelter during the Winter. The Eastern Red Cedar's wood is used to make wooden pencils and fence posts.

Have you seen any of these trees before?!

Citation: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga_plant_page.htm, http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga_plant_page.htm

Question 6:Two Kinds of Animals

Two animals found in coniferous forests are the American Black Bear and the Long-Eared Owl. The American Black Bear is an animal that is an omnivore and is very protective of their cubs. They will do anything for their babies, just like most humans would. The Black Bear helps its habitat by killing off the overpopulated prey that is too weak or old. Black Bears eat 75% plants and other vegetation and the other 25% of its diet is made up of small mammals, honey, insects and carcasses. One way the American Black Bear has adapted to coniferous forests is that their claws have grown to the length that is needed to climb the trees in the biome. The Long-Eared Owl has two feathers sticking up out of its head. They actually do have ears, but they aren't visible. Long-Eared Owls have very sharp claws used for hunting. They eat mostly small rodents. The Long-Eared Owl is nocturnal, so it goes hunting at night. They are mainly predators in their biome. Long-Eared owls do not adapt in environments with people because they rarely live near people. They do not go too deep into the forest and they find other large birds nests to live in.

Do you think you would like to see these animals near you?

Citation: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga_animal_page.htm, http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga_animal_page.htm

Question 7: Where Our Biome Is Located...

The Coniferous Forests are located in the North of the world which explains why it gets so cold in the winter because it is not near the equator. It is located in an area in which cold weather is dominant. They are found in Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Canada, and the United States. Taigas are located in these areas because the trees, plants, and animals need to live in a temperate environment that is a little bit on the colder side. Most organisms living here can live in other biomes, but Coniferous Forests are the best for them. Also, the reason why evergreen trees (whuch are found in Coniferous Forests) are in cold environments instead of warm ones because they can are green throughout the year; even when it is cold out. Most trees in the Coniferous Forest have needles which is an adaptation to the cold weather.

Do you live near a Coniferous Forest?

Citation: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga_climate_page.htm