Coniferous Forests - Avi Seth.pptx

Confierous forest

1. Coniferous Forests By Avi Seth This slideshow talks about the coniferous forest biome, which covers about a third of the total forest area in the world.

2. Vegetation Characteristics The coniferous forest biome vegetation is characterized by: Needle-like leaves appear to grow on trees instead of flat leaves, and trees bearing cones with seeds instead of in fruits (these trees are known as conifers). Species of pines, spruces, firs, and tamaracks (trees with very straight, thin, and cylindrical trunks going all the way to the top of the tree) being found. Fun fact: The conifer vegetation’s needles aren’t shed during winter, allowing them to return from a sunlight-lacking winter, back to photosynthesis.

3. Climate & Weather Characteristics The weather and climate here is characterized by: A frequency of storms and fires, typically following in order. Cool summer rains Heavy winter snowfall Mean Temperature… In winters: -40 o C to 20 o C (-40 o F to 68 o F) In summers: ≃10 o C (50 o F) Mean Precipitation: expected 300-900 mm of rain. Fact: The storms knock down trees and/or sever trunks/branches, which dry out over time. Sunlight acts as a heat source and the dry wood acts as a fuel source, allowing fires to start spreading. The ash produced acts as a fertilizer for new trees, regulating population of conifers. ^Conifer trunks breaking after a storm ^Conifer trees catching on fire ^Mean temperature in winters

4. Plants and Their Adaptations Abies concolor , or the White Fir Adaptation: Extremely flexible and small branches that grow sideways from the trunk. Benefit: When heavy loads of snow piles up on White Fir, branches fold downwards, letting the snow slide down from the tree. Branches’ flexibility also ensures that they don’t break under the immense pressure. Pinus , commonly known as the Pines Adaptations: Needle-like leaves that all conifers, pine or not, bear. Benefit: Minimizes surface area , which leads to less heat exchange, especially in cold and freezing winters. Since needle like leaves don’t pose burden to trees’ health, trees don’t need to shed leaves, allowing them to conserve resources for survival and development in the next growth season.

5. Plants and Their Adaptations (Cont.) Larix occidentalis , or Western Larch Adaptation: Fibrous Roots Benefit: More anchorage; high wind throw resistance. Juniperus virginiana , or Eastern Red Cedar Adaptation: Survival in Oak canopy Benefit: Because of high shade intolerance, through an unknown physiological mechanism, they are able to survive under the shade of the Oak canopy.

6. Animals and Their Adaptations Lepus americanus , or the Snowshoe Hare : Adaptation: Fur color change, dependent on the season Benefit: Disguise from predators e.g. white color in winter to hide in snow, or red-orange color in summer. Corallus Caninus , or the Emerald Tree Boa Adaptation: Vertical pupils Benefit: Tracking fast movement with very little effort.

7. Animals and Their Adaptations (Cont.) Gypaetus barbatus , or the Bearded Vulture: Adaptation: Thick neck and strong digestive system Benefit: Allows bearded vultures to swallow big bones like femurs whole. Budorcas taxicolor , or the Takin: Adaptation: Growth and development of a second fur coat, which can be shed like a snake. Benefit: Allows extra protection against extreme cold during winter.

8. Threats Climate change causing warmer climate Uncontrolled and more frequent wildfire causing more destruction of trees than what is needed More Drought By the end of this century, anywhere from 16%-54% of coniferous forest land is estimated to be lost if current course is continued.

9. Reasons for Visiting Eco-friendly christmas with many christmas-related conifers. Experience snowfall AND greenery at the same time. See the world from high above on the tall trees

10. Bibliography Works Cited “Coniferous Forest Animals: List and Facts.” Coniferous Forest , http://coniferousforest.com/animals. Accessed 18 May 2022. “Coniferous forest biome.” Minnesota DNR , https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/biomes/coniferous.html. Accessed 13 May 2022. “coniferous forest | Definition & Facts | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica , https://www.britannica.com/science/coniferous-forest. Accessed 13 May 2022. “Coniferous Forest: Mission: Biomes.” NASA Earth Observatory , https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/biome/bioconiferous.php. Accessed 13 May 2022. HAMMOND, JON. “Pen in Hand: White Firs: the sweet smell of success in the Tehachapi Mountains | Lifestyle | tehachapinews.com.” Tehachapi News , 23 February 2018, https://www.tehachapinews.com/lifestyle/pen-in-hand-white-firs-the-sweet-smell-of-success-in-the-tehachapi-mountains/article_34913ae6-18f8-11e8-b28d-bfbbdf0a3c9e.amp.html. Accessed 17 May 2022. Wallace, Rick. “Species: Larix occidentalis.” USDA Forest Service , https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/larocc/all.html. Accessed 17 May 2022. Yang, Desheng, et al. “Drought Tolerance and Competition in Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) Encroachment of the Oak-Dominated Cross Timbers.” Frontiers , 7 February 2020, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.00059/full. Accessed 17 May 2022.