The Boreal Forest (Taiga)

ANIMALS Herbivores Deer Voles Beavers Predators Lynxes Wolves Gray Owl Wolverine Weasel Family Birds goshawk nutcracker Siberian rubythroat Insects midgets knats mosquitoes More About Animals

The boreal forest (from Boreas, Greek God of the north wind) is one of the world's largest biomes, covering almost 6800 miles across the northern hemisphere. It can also be found on high mountains such as the Alps in Europe, and the Appalachians and southern Rockies in the United States. Another name for the biome is taiga, a Russian word for a marshy pine forest.          The taiga is characterized by a cold climate, a low rate of precipitation, and a short growing season. Though its summer is longer than the tundra to its north, the taiga climate is still harsh. In the winter, temperatures can be even lower than regions farther north, especially in the interior of the continents, where warm air from the sea has little effect in moderating the cold. Frost covers the region for up to ten months each year. In addition, most of the taiga is permanently covered in water since underground frost prevents any water from draining away. The severity of winters limits the diversity of animal life in the taiga. Click on an image to see a larger version

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         Many of the animals do not live in the taiga the entire year. Birds only migrate to the area during the summer, moving to warmer climate down south for the rest of the year. Only a few amphibians and reptiles can survive the cold winter.

         The animals that do live in the taiga have adapted to its cold climate. Since there is not much sun to warm the eggs, all common taiga reptiles give birth to live young. Many of the animals are relatively large, which makes it easier to conserve heat. Larger animals have smaller surface area, resulting in less heat loss. For this reason, the elk (biggest of the deer), wolverine (biggest of the weasels), and the capercaillie (biggest of the grouches) are common in the taiga.

         Predators in the taiga often struggle to find food. The lynx's wide range of prey is essential to its survival during winter months. To capture prey, the wolverine's well-furred feet enables it to run across the thin crust of snow. The gray owl, which feeds only on voles, must locate and catch them beneath a thick layer of snow much of the year.

         Insects are abundant during the spring and summer, serving as food for migratory birds. Midges, gnats, and mosquitoes feast on the blood of mammals. During winter, insects hide beneath bark, under ground, or under water.