Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Temperate Coniferous Forest
- Structure
- 2 layers of
vegetation
- Canopy
- Ground forest floor layer
- Ground cover limited -
lack of sunlight, deep
acidic layer of
non-decomposed
needles
- Thin layer of leaf litter
- Mosses,
lichens,
wood sorrel
- Needle-like
leaves
- Adaptation
- Needle-like leaves
- Small - reduced exposed leaf surface
area and thick cuticles on leaves
- Consequence - Reduced water loss through
transpiration during strong winds/freezing weather
(when water is frozen and unavailable for root
absorption
- very little sap-
tolerate
freezing
contitions
- Roots
- Spreads out widely to take
advantage of moisture in
upper levels of ground, which
only thaws occasioanally
- Thick resinous bark
- Protects
trunk from
extreme
cold
- Cones
- Shield the seeds
- Conical shape
- Snow slide down
without breaking
branch
- Provides stabiity
against strong winds
- Evergreen
- Carry out year-round
photosynthesis -
produce food year
round
- Helps conserve energy,
since production of
leaves takes a lot of
energy
- More efficient to keep a
leaf for several years
- Diversity of
Forest
- Tree Species
- Rarely number more than 2 or 3
species per km square
- Extensive coverage of a
single species eg spruce, fir,
pine
- Lower latitude - mix of
needleleaf and broadleaf
evergreen trees
- Higher latitude -
needleleaf trees
predominate
- Trees grow close together
for protection from wind
- Nutrient Cycle
- Cold climate and acidic soil
discourage earthworms and
bacteria
- Consequence - needles decompose
slowly to give organic matter in soil
with low pH (Acid mor humus)
- Total precipitation > Evotranspiration rate
- Leaching (minerals washed out of soil) occurs.
- Podsols develop.
Podsols are infertile
acidic soil, with ash-like
subsurface
- Conifers require few nutrients