Food Web
The food web shows the topic levels as well as the flow of energy, one example is the Cottontail easting the grass, then the Minks eating the Cottontail, and the Hawk eating the Mink, as you can see, but what you can also see is that it isn't the only way to finish the energy transfer.
Balsam Fir (Abies Balsamea)
Balsam Firs are found in North America in the north east, and can be found from Virginia to Newfoundland and north west towards Yukon and Labrador. As it is coniferous, it doesn't have traditional leaves, but needles, so that it doesn't require too much energy nor falls off. The needles are thick so there is less water movement to freeze the Fir. The Balsam Fir has been adapted to grow tall and vertical instead of spreading long branches, this is so it can save up energy. |
Black Spruce (Picea Mariana)
Black Spruce don't have a particular area of the Taiga in which it only inhabits, but it is known to grow up to 25 meters tall. As it grows older, the top of the tree becomes more like a spike. It has flimsy branches that are pretty small, and since it is also a coniferous tree, it has needles too. It's needles are waxy and have 4 sides on them, being a blue-green colour. The Black Spruce has tough bark, and this is an adaptation from the animals that wish to feed on the inside of the tree. It also has pine cones. |
Jack Pine (Pinus Banksiana)
Jack Pines are also pretty tall, growing up to 27 meters tall, with a 16 and 32 diameter around the trunk. It, along with the previous 2 trees, is a coniferous species, with waxy needles. It has rough thick bark, which makes it fire resistant, and if often used as lumber for houses. If it has been destroyed by fire, then its seeds fall and germinate or stay idle until conditions are suitable. It, like the Black Spruce, has pine cones as well. Jack Pine is more adapted for flat or hilly surfaces. |
Paper Birch (Betula Papyfriera)
Paper Birches are also very tall, growing up to 18 to 24 metres. They have thin bark that peels into horizontal layers, appearing like paper. These trees can be found in Canada as far as the tundra, but a similar species called the European White Birch grows in Northern Europe. The Paper Birch grows in pairs or clumps. |
Siberian Tiger (Pantheras Tigris Altacia)
The Siberian Tiger is an endangered animal with only 350-450 left in the wild. They live in the south east corner of Russia, and are a carnivorous species. On average they can grow up to 3 metres and can weigh up to 300 kg, but the biggest it can get is 4 metres and 320 kg. They are the largest Tigers in the world, more specifically, the largest cats. The northern forests offer more space for the tigers because there isn't as many people living up there. It's fur coat is what keeps them warm, but unfortunately the coat is what poachers want. |
Great Horned Owl (Bubo Virginias)
Great Horned Owls live is wide ranges of habitats, including, but not limited too, Cold and snowy, Urban, and warm. Their feathers are dark coloured, obviously more natural colours, these being black, grey, and brown, but also white as well but it just depends on where they live, they also have bright yellow eyes. Females are larger than Males, and the owls in the northern region, or just in the taiga section, have a larger wing span and core bodies. |
Arctic Fox (Vulpes Lagopus)
Arctic Foxes are an omnivorous species and can grow up to on average 75 to 110 cm long and 3 to 8 kg. They are able to sustain themselves in temperatures as low or below -50° c and that is perfect for the taiga. Their white coats are used for camouflage. They live around the northern tree line in the arctic tundra, all throughout the taiga. |
Caribou (Rangifer Tarandus)
The Caribou inhabits the arctic tundra, mountain tundra, and northern forests of North America, Greenland, Scandinavia, and Russia. They are herbivorous and their group name is herd. They are a vulnerable species, and their numbers are decreasing. Another name for them is reindeer. |
Food Web
Black Spruce and Lichen [Mutualism]
The Lichen gets food from dead matter on the Black Spruce, and the Black Spruce gets nutrients from the Lichen. |
Caribou and Brain worms [Parasitism]
The Brain worm gets into the Caribou's head and simply eats away the brain until the Caribou is dead. |