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Chapter 9Forest Biomes
Section 9.1
Coniferous Forest
Coniferous Forest• Location: sub-arctic regions of
North America, Europe, and Asia
• Summers: warm & last 2-5 months
• Winters: long, cold, dry, little sunlight
Coniferous Forest• Precipitation: 40-200cm per year
• Rain during summer & snow during winter
Coniferous Forest• Coniferous means “cone-bearing”
• Conifers (coniferous trees) are trees that produce seed cones
• Trees have needles instead of leaves
• What do you think the needles do?
Coniferous Forest
Coniferous Trees• Pine, hemlock, spruce, fir, & cedar
• Broadleaf trees- aspen & birch
• Not a diverse biome
• Soil is poor & acidic because needles are acidic & decompose slowly
Coniferous Forest• Limiting factors: harsh winters &
nutrient-poor soils
• Also present are ferns, lichens, and sphagnum moss
Coniferous Forest• Heavy winter snow is important
• Acts as an insulator to keep the roots from freezing
• Gives rodents a chance to survive instead of freezing underground
Coniferous Forest• Adaptations of animals- herbivores
are seed eaters, such as mice, squirrels, rodents, & birds
• Insects are common during the summer- soil is moist and poorly drained
Coniferous Animals• Herbivores- moose, elk, beaver,
& snowshoe hares- feed on bark & plants
Coniferous Animals• Predators- grizzly bears, wolves,
& lynxes
Animal Adaptations• Migrate, hibernate, or live under
snow
• Thick body coverings to protect them from the cold
REVIEW!!!• What characterizes a coniferous
forest?
• Explain several adaptations that enable organisms in coniferous forests to live through harsh winters
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