Fauna & Flora
The Boreal forest is home to many different species of plants and animals that have adapted to survive in the harsh climates that the Boreal forest experiences each year. The climate plays a big factor in the survival of the fauna and fauna that live in this large biome. If the climate changed suddenly, many of the different species of plants and animals would have to adapt with it. Some of them might even face extinction if this happened. Many of the plants would die and the areas in which the forest lives could become quite barren or bare.
Fauna
The Taiga is home to many different species of animals. Some common animals include Moose, Hares, Foxes, Bears, Squirrels, Lynxes, Elk and Wolves. The Boreal forest in Canada is home to around 32,000 insect species, 130 fish species, and 85 species of mammals. There are also about 300 species of birds who live there during summer, but only about 30 stay for winter. Animals like bears and wolves are at the top of the Boreal forest food chain, and smaller animals like hares and squirrels are at the bottom.
Flora
As said on the introduction page, the dominant species of plants inhabiting the Taiga are Pines, Spuces and Larches. They have thin fir needles that shed snow easily and are mostly conical in shape. Some threats to the flora that resides in the Taiga include forest fires during the summer, certain insects, and pesticides. But the biggest threat is deforestation, which is currently taking up to 30% of the whole area of the forest, and only 12% is protected. Other plants like mosses, lichen and shrubberies live in the Taiga.
Soil
The soil in the Boreal forest is very poor and lacks proper nutrients because not enough trees die to become dirt. In some places it can be slighlty acidic because of fallen pine needles. When you look at it you would expect it to be fairly solid, but in some places you can sink up to your ankles in it.