1. Warm-up:
What are two things that characterize a biome?

2. Taiga:

3. Taiga:

4. Taiga: General Description
The coldness and food shortages make living there very difficult especially in the winter.
The soil is very thin and has very few nutrients.
The taiga is also known as the Boreal forests.

6. Location:
Largest Biome in the World. Stretches over Eurasia and North America.
The taiga is located in northern areas of the world and near the tops of high mountains.

7. Climate:
The average temperature is just below freezing for six months of the year.
Have long, dry, cold winters and short warm summers.
Average precipitation is about 35 – 75 cm. (14 – 30 in.)
Average temperature is about 57°F to 14°F (14°C to -10°C)

8. Plants:
Not many plants can survive the extreme cold of the Taiga winter. Some lichens and mosses.
Examples
Pine
White Spruce
Hemlock
Douglas Fir

9. Animals: Examples: Wolves Grizzly Bears Caribou (only in winter)
Hawk owl
Lynx

10. Animal Adaptations: Hibernate or migrate
Thicker fur, “winter” coats/summer coats
Some move between the tundra or deciduous forests
Some camouflage

11. Plant Adaptations:
“evergreens” – shed snow easily, keep leaves in winter
Some have waxy “needle-like” leaves that hold in water
Seeds contained in cones