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Arctic ecology is the scientific study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in the arctic, the region north of the Arctic Circle (66° 33’N). [1] This region is characterized by two biomes: taiga (or boreal forest) and tundra. [2]
Boreal forests occur in the more southern parts of the taiga ecoregion that spreads across the northern parts of the world. Canada's boreal forest is a vast region comprising about one third of the circumpolar boreal forest that rings the Northern Hemisphere, mostly north of the 50th parallel. [1]
Not only do conifer trees thrive in acidic soils, they actually make the soil more acidic. Acidic leaflitter (or needles) from conifers falls to the forest floor and the precipitation leaches the acids down into the soil. Other species that can tolerate the acidic soils of the taiga are lichens and mosses, yellow nutsedge, and water horsetail.
The species within boreal ecosystems varies as it consists of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The species composition include many generalized and less specialized feeders. [4] From the equator to the poles, species richness decreases, and there is a negative relationship with species richness changes as climate changes. [5] [4]
Because the island is young and isolated from larger land masses, species biodiversity is relatively low. Forest cover has been reduced to about 1% of the original birch forest by a long history of timber extraction and soil erosion caused by sheep grazing. Blanket bogs (areas of high rainfall and peat accumulation) are common. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Temperate deciduous forests are characterized by a variety of temperate deciduous tree species that vary based on region. [6] Most tree species present in temperate deciduous forests are broadleaf trees that lose their leaves in the fall, [8] though some coniferous trees such as pines (Pinus) are present in northern temperate deciduous forests. [6]
Extent of temperate broadleaf and mixed forests An example of temperate broadleaf and mixed forest in La Mauricie National Park, Quebec.. Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest is a temperate climate terrestrial habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature, with broadleaf tree ecoregions, and with conifer and broadleaf tree mixed coniferous forest ecoregions.
The region contains boreal forests with dwarf black spruce (Picea mariana) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea), dwarf kalmia (Kalmia polifolia), and various mosses. Various mixed evergreen and deciduous shrubs can be found in exposed areas. The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is found in this region. It is their southernmost limit to their range. [4]