Climate and Weather
The Boreal Forest, located in Alberta, Canada, experiences long, cold winters. The winters are often dry while the summers are short, warm and moist. Due to the forest's subarctic location, the biome receives fifty to one hundred frost-free days a year. The majority of the rainfall, which is thirty to eighty-four centimeters occurs mainly during the summer. About forty to one hundred centimeters of snow fall in the Boreal Forest, it is the most common form of precipitation. During the short summers, the sun stays above the horizon line for a period of about twenty hours, while during the winter, the sun is visible for only about 6 hours a day. The forest does not experience many cloudy days. The Boreal Forest's temperature ranges from -53.88°C to 21.11°C.
Location
Biotic Factors
The Boreal Forest mainly consists of deciduous and coniferous trees. Some examples of coniferous trees are:
- Evergreen
- Jack pine
- Black spruce.
Examples of deciduous trees:
- Aspen
- Balsam poplar
- Balsam fir
- Tamarack
Other species of trees include: trembling aspen, willow, alder, mountain ash. Other plantlike organisms include: rose, low-bush cranberry, beaked hazelnut, Canada buffalo-berry, herbs, mosses, fungi and lichens.
All plant-like organisms in the Boreal Forest must adapt to the poor soil quality and cold temperatures. Deciduous tree's sprout leaves during the summer, due to the lack of sunlight that prevents photosynthesis from occurring during the winter and fall months. The deciduous trees have adapted to the dry, cold conditions by loosing their leaves in the winter to prevent snow accumulation on branches. This further prevents breakage.
Additionally, the coniferous trees have adapted as well. Their slender cone shape minimizes snow accumulation and helps withstand the weight of snow throughout the entire season. The wax coating on the needles prevents drying from the harsh winter winds, while the proximity of the needles aids in photosynthesis.
- Evergreen
- Jack pine
- Black spruce.
Examples of deciduous trees:
- Aspen
- Balsam poplar
- Balsam fir
- Tamarack
Other species of trees include: trembling aspen, willow, alder, mountain ash. Other plantlike organisms include: rose, low-bush cranberry, beaked hazelnut, Canada buffalo-berry, herbs, mosses, fungi and lichens.
All plant-like organisms in the Boreal Forest must adapt to the poor soil quality and cold temperatures. Deciduous tree's sprout leaves during the summer, due to the lack of sunlight that prevents photosynthesis from occurring during the winter and fall months. The deciduous trees have adapted to the dry, cold conditions by loosing their leaves in the winter to prevent snow accumulation on branches. This further prevents breakage.
Additionally, the coniferous trees have adapted as well. Their slender cone shape minimizes snow accumulation and helps withstand the weight of snow throughout the entire season. The wax coating on the needles prevents drying from the harsh winter winds, while the proximity of the needles aids in photosynthesis.
Fish, Birds and Mammals
A Brook Trout
In the Athabasca River, located in the Boreal Forest, there are about 130 species of fish including: walleye, northern pike, lake trout, arctic grayling, yellow perch, brook trout, whitefish, burbot, cisco, and multiple minnow species. The Athabasca river is also home to mussels and oysters. All theses species are susceptible to pollution. Fish are prey for organisms such as:
- Eagles, osprey, herons, loons, mergansers
- Grizzly bears, black bears, and otters
- Eagles, osprey, herons, loons, mergansers
- Grizzly bears, black bears, and otters
A Raven in flight.
In the Boreal Forest, there are about 222 species of birds. Small species of birds include: warblers, siskins, thrushes, flycatchers, kinglets, grosbeaks, sparrows and many more. Owls, grouse, ducks, ravens, woodpeckers, ptarmigans, and whooping cranes are all examples of the larger species. It is estimated that about half of all birds in North America use the Boreal Forest at least once a year, while about three billion land, water and shore birds breed in the forest.
A Caribou
The Boreal Forest is home to fifty-five species of mammals. Some of the non carnivorous consumers include: beavers, deer mouse, deer, red squirrel, southern red-backed vole, snowshoe hare, ermine, chipmunk and cinereous shrew. Mink, grizzly bear, black bear, river otter, moose, muskrat, wolves, lynx, foxes, marten, fisher and wolverines are examples of the predatory consumers from the Boreal Forest.
Although they are not mammals, reptiles and amphibians are found in the Boreal Forest as well. One type of reptile specie, the wandering garter snake makes its home in the Boreal Forest, while five types of amphibian species are located in the forest.
The amphibians include:
- The Boreal Chorus Frog
- Western toad
- Wood frog
- Northern leopard frog
- Long toed salamander.
Although they are not mammals, reptiles and amphibians are found in the Boreal Forest as well. One type of reptile specie, the wandering garter snake makes its home in the Boreal Forest, while five types of amphibian species are located in the forest.
The amphibians include:
- The Boreal Chorus Frog
- Western toad
- Wood frog
- Northern leopard frog
- Long toed salamander.
Abiotic Factors
Showing layers of luvisols.
The Boreal Forest has two types of soil characteristics that are commonly found in forest regions, the soils are called luvisols and mesisols. Soils in the forest are called podzols, which descends from the Russian word "ash".
Fossils have been found in the Boreal Forest and therefore are made of sedimentary rock which is an abiotic factor. Metamorphic rock can be found in the Boreal Forest, however, sedimentary rock is the most common.
Fossils have been found in the Boreal Forest and therefore are made of sedimentary rock which is an abiotic factor. Metamorphic rock can be found in the Boreal Forest, however, sedimentary rock is the most common.
Subregions of The Boreal Forest
The Boreal Forest has eight subregions, the largest of them being the Central Mixedwood Natural Subregion. Since the subregion is part of the Boreal Forest it experiences short, warm summers and long, cold winters as well. The subregion consists of plains in level with wetlands and upland forests. Aspen, mixedwood and white spruce are found in the forest area of this region while the wetlands are home to black spruce fens and bogs.
The second largest subregion, the Dry Mixedwood Natural Subregion contains plains, aspen dominated forests, white spruce, fens, rose, low-bush cranberry, Canada buffaloberry and beaked hazelnut. Sedge dominated fens occupy fifteen percent of the subregion. Unlike most subregions, the Dry Mixedwood Natural Subregion is well drained and the warmest of all eight.
The Lower Boreal Highlands Natural Subregion, the third largest subreion, contains a diverse forest including: aspen, balsam poplar, black spruce, white spruce, white birch and jack pine. This area of the Boreal Forest experiences colder winters than the Upper Boreal Highlands Natural Subregion. The subregion receives lacustrine and organic deposits from glaciers. The elevation of this subarctic area is about 400 meters to 1,000 meters.
The Upper Boreal Highlands Subregion is dominated by coniferous forests and plateaus which contain white spruce, jack pine and black spruce. Out of all the subregions, the Upper Boreal Highlands has the most precipitation during the summers. The subregion has an elevation range of 825 meters to 1100 meters, which is the highest in the Boreal Forest.
The Boreal Subarctic Natural Subregion is home to black spruce bogs, shrubs, moss and lichen. Subarctic birds, plants and insects are found in this region along with permafrost which is a thick layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year. Due to the dry weather, forest fires occur often in this are, and because of the high elevation, ranging from 575 meters to 1000 meters plant, plant growth becomes restricted and difficult to maintain.
Similar to the Boreal Subarctic Natural Subregion, the Northern Mixedwood Natural Subregion's soils is in a state of permafrost. Deciduous trees are uncommon in this region. This subregion is home to black spruce bogs and undulating plains. The elevation ranges from 150 meters to 650 meters.
With elevations ranging from 200 meters to 250 meters, the Peace- Athabasca Delta Natural Subregion contains many lakes, rivers and creek. It is home to one of the largest freshwater deltas in the world. Although most vegetation is water related , jack pine and lichen grow in the area as well.
The Athabasca Plain Natural Subregion is the only expanse with dune fields and sandy planes. It is one of the smallest regions of the Boreal Forest. The forests in this zone are mainly jack pine trees.
The second largest subregion, the Dry Mixedwood Natural Subregion contains plains, aspen dominated forests, white spruce, fens, rose, low-bush cranberry, Canada buffaloberry and beaked hazelnut. Sedge dominated fens occupy fifteen percent of the subregion. Unlike most subregions, the Dry Mixedwood Natural Subregion is well drained and the warmest of all eight.
The Lower Boreal Highlands Natural Subregion, the third largest subreion, contains a diverse forest including: aspen, balsam poplar, black spruce, white spruce, white birch and jack pine. This area of the Boreal Forest experiences colder winters than the Upper Boreal Highlands Natural Subregion. The subregion receives lacustrine and organic deposits from glaciers. The elevation of this subarctic area is about 400 meters to 1,000 meters.
The Upper Boreal Highlands Subregion is dominated by coniferous forests and plateaus which contain white spruce, jack pine and black spruce. Out of all the subregions, the Upper Boreal Highlands has the most precipitation during the summers. The subregion has an elevation range of 825 meters to 1100 meters, which is the highest in the Boreal Forest.
The Boreal Subarctic Natural Subregion is home to black spruce bogs, shrubs, moss and lichen. Subarctic birds, plants and insects are found in this region along with permafrost which is a thick layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year. Due to the dry weather, forest fires occur often in this are, and because of the high elevation, ranging from 575 meters to 1000 meters plant, plant growth becomes restricted and difficult to maintain.
Similar to the Boreal Subarctic Natural Subregion, the Northern Mixedwood Natural Subregion's soils is in a state of permafrost. Deciduous trees are uncommon in this region. This subregion is home to black spruce bogs and undulating plains. The elevation ranges from 150 meters to 650 meters.
With elevations ranging from 200 meters to 250 meters, the Peace- Athabasca Delta Natural Subregion contains many lakes, rivers and creek. It is home to one of the largest freshwater deltas in the world. Although most vegetation is water related , jack pine and lichen grow in the area as well.
The Athabasca Plain Natural Subregion is the only expanse with dune fields and sandy planes. It is one of the smallest regions of the Boreal Forest. The forests in this zone are mainly jack pine trees.