Coniferous trees are also known as evergreens. They have long, thin waxy needles. The wax gives them some protection from freezing temperatures and from drying out. Evergreens don't loose their leaves in the winter like deciduous trees. They keep their needles all year long. This is so they can start photosynthesis as soon as the weather gets warm. The dark color of evergreen needles allows them to absorb heat from the sun and also helps them start photosynthesis early. Evergreens in the taiga tend to be thin and grow close together. This gives them protection from the cold and wind. Evergreens also are usually shaped like an upside down cone to protect the branches from breaking under the weight of all that snow. The snow slides right off the slanted branches. Animals do not really interact much with the evergreens, the trees are just present and the animals don't mind them.
Needle leaf tree
Pine tree
abiotic factors CONTinued
Lynx
Fox
The gray wolf is one of the largest animals to live in the taiga. They can hunt and kill very large mammals including moose, elk, and caribou. Many gray wolves have a social adaptation to live in packs. This feature enables the wolves to hunt large animals that would otherwise be impossible to hunt. Also, the gray wolf has a very sensitive sense of smell and hearing. This helps to locate prey quickly. They also have a very thick coat that insulates them very well. Gray wolves are carnivores. They eat animals such as caribou, moose, and other deer-like animals. When food is scarce, they will eat rodents.
biodiversity
Biodiversity is fairly low in the taiga. The biome is found in northern latitudes, which are not known for high biodiversity. A very low amount of reptile and amphibian species can be found. The amount of mammal, bird, and insect species is also quite low compared to other biomes. In addition, with the rapid increase of foresting in recent years, the biodiversity of the ecosystem is going down.
precipitation & temperature
The taiga biome would be an uncomfortable place for humans to live. The average temperature is below freezing for half of the year. Main seasons are summer and winter in the biome, for the spring and autumn is so short they hardly exist. In some parts, the summer temperature range is as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters can range from as low -65 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. In these parts, the overall average temperature is about 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Average precipitation is about 40 inches. Forms of precipitation include rain, snow, and dew; most precipitin is rain that falls in the summer.
Overall, the average climate for the taiga each year falls below -32°F (0°C). The taiga can be as low as -76°F (60°C). In the summer the temperature can reach as high as 104°F (40°C). Due to this kind of climate, soil is dark and unsuitable for the undergrowth to develop.