Taiga

Introduction Taiga: Helen Webster The taiga climate mostly consists of cold arctic air. Taiga is the Russian word for forest and is the largest biome in the world. It stretches over Eurasia and North America. The taiga is located near the top of the world, just below the tundra biome. The winters in the taiga are very cold with only snowfall. The summers are warm, rainy, and humid. The taiga is also known as the boreal forest. Threats facing the taiga biome- Global Warming and Human activitites (Clear cutting and logging). Climate- In the taiga, summers are warm and rainy, and the winters are very cold. There is lots of snow in the forests, too. During the summer, it is usually around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, the high temperature averages around 30 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas the low temperature is 65 degrees below zero.

Winters lowest temp -65 degrees. Winters highest temp 30 degrees. Summers lowest temp 30 degrees. Summers highest temp 70 degrees.

The Taiga stretches around the world in Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, and China. It is only in the northern hemisphere because the southern hemisphere cannot support the Taigan climate. --R.Whitlock The Canadian Lynx- //Felinae// (Lynx) //canadensis// Diet- mainly snowshoe hares, meadow voles, small deer, caribou, and sheep. Reproductive Cycle- they mate between February and March.They give birth after about 63-70 days (2 months) the females give birth to a liter of 1-8 kittens. Some females will breed as early as 10 months though they normally reach sexual maturity by 23 months depending on the amount of prey. tHe kittens have soft streaked and spotted fur. Life Cycle- in the wild Lynx live for 15 years, and in captivity they live for about 21 years. Kittens will open their eyes after 10-17 days and will walk between 24-30 weeks 3 Interesting Facts- Lynxes feet act like snowshoes, distributing their weight as they move through the snow. They are almost identical to a regular house cat just bigger. It's feet are covered in fur to help it sneak up on prey without making any sound and scaring away their prey.

The White Poplar or Silver Poplar- //Populus alba// Life cycle- They are fast growing trees that reach about 60-100 feet.

 Helen Webster Brown Bear - //Ursus arctos// Reproductive cycle - The mating season for the Brown Bear is between late May and early July. Brown Bears are monogomus animals, which means they will stay with eachother a couple of days to a few weeks during the mating process. Females mature between the ages of 5 and 7 years and males are usually later to build up strength and competition for mating rights. The average liter has one to four cubs, usually two. Older females tend to have larger liters. Cubs remain by their mother's side from two to four years, during which they learn all the tasks to be a successful and healthy bear. Brown bears practice infantcide, which means that an adult male bear may kill the cubs of another bear to make the female sexually active or for consumption.

Life cycle-Under most circumstances, brown bears live as lone individuals, except for females accompanied by their cubs. Siblings sometimes remain together for a while after separating from their mother. Despite their propensity for solitary existence, brown bears congregate where food is abundant 20-25 years in the wild; somewhat longer in zoos Brown bears are omnivores and feed on a varitey of plant products inculding berries, nuts, fungi, sprouts, roots as well as meat products such as fish, insects, and small mammals. Their diet can vary enormously throughtout differing ranges in the world. I. e., Brown bears in yellowstone feed on moths during the summer months and bears in Russia and Alaska feed on protein rich spawning salmon.

Three interesting facts: A brown bear can eat 25-35 pounds of food per day, about 2% of their body weight. The claws of a brown bear can reach almost 5 inches long. A bear can run at bursts of speed of up to 30 miles per hour.



Helen Webster Douglas Fir Tree Common Names: bigcone Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir Scientific name: Pseudotsuga menziesii Three interesting facts: The oldest known Douglas-fir can be found on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, and is estimated to be between 1300 to 1400 years old (Earle 1999).

The Douglas-fir has been the major Christmas tree species used in the Pacific Northwest since the 1920's.

Douglas-fir reaches its best growth on well-drained, moist, deep, loamy soils with a pH range from 5 to 6. Life cycle and reproductive cycle -The seasonal growth of Douglas-fir begins during the spring (usually April) with quick bud growth. During the months of May and June the buds begin to open which triggers the enlargement of the later triggering the enlargement of the lateral bud. From July to November the lateral bud active and we see the beginning of the leaf, bract, and microsporophyll. Meiosis and pollen development begin to occur around March and by April the cone buds burst or flower and pollination of the seed cones begins. In May and June fertilization is underway and the seed cones begin to enlarge at a rapid pace. From August to September embryo and seed development is in full swing and by late September cones have matured and begin to shed their seeds. The entire reproductive cycle of Douglas-fir is over a 17 month period from early April to late September of the following year.

The mature female seed cones are pendent, 5-11 cm (2-4 inches) long, 2-3 cm broad when closed, opening to 4 cm broad. They are produced in spring, green at first, maturing orange-brown in the autumn 6–7 months later. The seeds are 5-6 mm long and 3-4 mm broad, with a 12-15 mm wing. The male (pollen) cones are 2-3 cm long, dispersing yellow pollen in spring.

Helen Webster American Copper Butterfly Scientific name: Lycaena phlaeas Common name: Flame Copper, Small Copper. Diet- Caterpillar: In the east, caterpillars feed on the leaves of sheep sorrel and curly dock; in the west, caterpillars feed primarily on mountain sorrel. Adult: Butterflies drink flower nectar.

Life cycle- Eggs are laid singly on the underside of foodplant leaves. During that time the young caterpillar feeds on the underside of the leaf creating "windows" by leaving the upper epidermis of the leaf untouched. Pupation takes place in the leaf litter and the pupa is thought to be tended by ants. There are between two and three broods a year, fewer further north. The species overwinters as a caterpillar. Reproductive cycle- Males perch to wait for receptive females. Females lay ribbed, pale green eggs singly on the leaves or stems of host plants. During mating season, American Copper Butterfly males tend to wait for females to pass by in their territories and are so aggressive that they will chase down anything, even if they are rival males passing by. Three interesting facts: The American Copper flies 1-2 feet off the ground from one nectar source or perch to another.

Being only an inch in wingspan, the American Copper would seem to be a seldom-observed species, but its colorful coppery wings give away its position.  Flight  Usually 3-4 broods per year, with the first occurring in late May or early June, and then lasting until October in some years

Helen Webster http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm [] [] [] []