Boreal Coniferous Forest

Located south of the Arctic tundra

Stretches from the East Coast through Canada to the Rocky mountains

Climate:

Low temperatures

Short growing season

low precipitation (higher than alpine tundra)

Soil:

High (rich) in organic matter

Extremely acidic soil

Fairly wet soil (low temperatures leads to low evaporation rate)

Topography:

Flat landscape

Peat bogs

Fire Distribution:

Crown fires

Plant Communities:

White Spruce, Balsam Firs

Successional species: Birch, Quaking Aspen, Jack Pine (serotinous cones)

Adaptations:

Thick shiny leaves

Wind seed dispersal

Root sprouts

Winter dormancy

Cone shaped trees with flexible limbs

Animals:

Caribou Moose

Wolves

Black Bears

Human Impact:

Human logging for pulp wood

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