Identify some abiotic characteristics of the taiga biome

Taiga (boreal forest or snow forest), is the largest land biome characterized by coniferous forests which consist mostly of pines, spruces and larches. Abiotic characteristics of taiga are:

•Temperature-usually very low, but with high variations (extreme annual variation of temperature)

• Precipitation-usually low, includes rain, fog and snow

•Soil-poor with nutrients, acidic, formation of permafrost (frozen ground)

•Winds-cold form arctic circle.

Taiga is one of the largest terrestrial biome which includes the areas of North America, Europe and Asia. The abiotic characteristics of this biome are:

1. Temperature: It usually has sub-arctic temperature which varies between -5°C to 5°C (10°C being the highest). It has short and wet summers and long cold winters.

2. Soil: The soil is very thin, young and thin. In addition, it is also acidic in nature because of fallen pine needles.

Extreme climate hinders or prevents the growth of plants. Also, it limits the addition of organic material to the soil.

3. Precipitation: This biome receives very less amount of rainfall (only 12-33 inches of rain that too during summer). In contrast, it receives heavy snowfall throughout the winter season.

4. Wind: They bring extreme cold breezes from arctic circle.

These factors limits the growth of vegetation and thus it inhibits the growth of animals.