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Coniferous Forest

“The best CONE-didate around!”

By: Blake Cornell and Nathan Oh

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Precipitation

  • 300 to 900 millimeters of rain per year
  • This precipitation is the best because there is enough rain to sustain a lot of life, but not enough that it gets out of control and overly humid.

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Temperature Range

  • Temperatures in the forest vary between 10℃ in the summer and -20℃ in the winter for most of the coniferous forests. In some places, the extremes can be as high as 25℃ and in others as low as -40℃.
  • Winters are fairly long while summers are mild in the Coniferous Forests, suitable for mammals and birds.

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Alberta, Canada

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Soil Characterics

  • The soils in Coniferous Forests are called podzols and contain a compacted layer of humus. This layer of humus is called mor and contains many fungi and other decomposers.
  • Although the soil is usually acidic and low in nutrients, it is still a suitable foundation for the trees and other species that thrive in the forests.

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Plant Adaptation

  • Trees are tall and narrow so that the snow slides off the branches and they don’t crack under the weight.
  • Trees also have thick bark so that they resist forest fires.
  • Trees have needles and thin, tough leaves rather that broad leaves. These needles are less prone to freezing in the winter.

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Animal Adaptations

  • Mammals living in the Coniferous forest either have thick layers of fur, have adapted the ability to hibernate, or have both.
  • Thick layers of fur allow the mammals to be better insulated against the cold
  • Hibernation allows the mammals to use less energy during the winter while food is scarcer.

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Locations

Located mainly between 50 and 60 degrees latitude in the Northern Hemisphere

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Special Characteristics

  • Coniferous forests are a vital production center for wood, natural gas and oil, and metals.
  • Natural gas, although not exclusive to Coniferous Forests, is often extracted in them. Russian forests are the largest natural gas and oil reserves on the planet.
  • The tall, thin, straight trunks of coniferous trees is ideal for wood use in society.
  • Coniferous forests commonly grow on mountainsides, which are rich in metals such as Iron and Tin.

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Bibliography