Back

South of the tundra biomes are the coniferous forest biomes. Unlike the permafrost of the tundras, the

soil in a coniferous forest thaws every spring, making the forest floor wet and swampy. For this reason, a coniferous forest biome is also called a taiga (TIGH-guh), a Russian name that means swamp forest. It is also sometimes called the Boreal forest. (Boreal means north) A coniferous forest biome, or taiga, is found in parts of Alaska as well, as at the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains. Temperatures in coniferous forest biomes are cold. The yearly rainfall is between 50 and 125 centimeters.

Soaring redwoods and other cone-bearing trees can be seen in Sequoia National Park, California. The giant redwoods of northern California are some of the oldest and tallest living organisms.

Few types of trees can survive the cold climate of the coniferous forests. The trees that do live in these biomes are needle-leaved trees, or conifers. Conifers produce their seeds in cones. They include firs, spruces, and pines. Giant redwoods grow along the coasts of Washington State, Oregon, and northern California. These conifers, which may grow as tall as 60 meters, are among the tallest trees in the world. (The tallest redwood ever found was 110 meters tall-almost 20 meters taller than the Statue of Liberty!) The Mediterranean climate of southern California supports a coniferous forest like biome called a chaparral. A chaparral consists mainly of short, shrublike plants.

Large animals in the coniferous forests include wolves, deer, black bears and grizzly bears, and moose. (Parts of the coniferous forests are even called "spruce-moose" belts.) Many smaller animals, such as beaver, hares, and red squirrels, also live in the coniferous forests. Crows and great horned owls are some of the birds that build their nests among the conifers. Grouse roost in the branches.

The brown bear shares its home in the coniferous forest with the moose and the great horned owl. What are other names for the coniferous forest?

Back

Top