FAQ's
Q.) What is the difference between a Tundra and a Taiga?
A.) There are different species of animals and plants in the two different biomes. For example, animals that live in the Tundra include: lemmings, arctic foxes, snowy owls, caribou, and reindeer; while the Taiga biome animals include: wolves, moose, bear, rabbits, and lynx. The Tundra has a significant increase in rainfall in comparison to the Taiga due to the layer of permafrost and never ending snowfall. However, the Taiga has a much warmer climate than the Tundra, especially in the summer. In the Tundra, very little vegetation grows, while in the Taiga, evergreens populate most of the biome. (16, pg 223)
Q.) Are there any snakes in the Taiga?
A.) There is only one known species of snakes in the Taiga, the Eastern Garter Snake. (10)
Q.) How much of the Earth is a Taiga biome?
A.) Approximately 27% of the Earth is considered a "Taiga" biome. (3)
Q.) What other national parks are in a Taiga biome?
A.) The Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Canada and the Yellowstone National Park in the United States are both well-known Taiga biome national parks, along with the featured Zabaikalsky National Park in Russia. (11)
A.) There are different species of animals and plants in the two different biomes. For example, animals that live in the Tundra include: lemmings, arctic foxes, snowy owls, caribou, and reindeer; while the Taiga biome animals include: wolves, moose, bear, rabbits, and lynx. The Tundra has a significant increase in rainfall in comparison to the Taiga due to the layer of permafrost and never ending snowfall. However, the Taiga has a much warmer climate than the Tundra, especially in the summer. In the Tundra, very little vegetation grows, while in the Taiga, evergreens populate most of the biome. (16, pg 223)
Q.) Are there any snakes in the Taiga?
A.) There is only one known species of snakes in the Taiga, the Eastern Garter Snake. (10)
Q.) How much of the Earth is a Taiga biome?
A.) Approximately 27% of the Earth is considered a "Taiga" biome. (3)
Q.) What other national parks are in a Taiga biome?
A.) The Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Canada and the Yellowstone National Park in the United States are both well-known Taiga biome national parks, along with the featured Zabaikalsky National Park in Russia. (11)
Q.) Where can I find more information about the Taiga?
A.) You can contact our expert, Dr. Susan L. Woodward, or you can go onto the website: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/taiga/?ar_a=1 for more information on the organisms.
Q.) Where can I find more information on the Zabaikalsky National Park?
A.) You can visit their website at http://www.wild-russia.org/bioregion10/Zabaikalsky/zabaik.htm. You can find more information about the organisms that live their, or travel information if you want to see the beautiful landscape for yourself.
Q.) What other keystone species can be found in an ecosystem in the Taiga biome?
A.) The Scotch Pin,e, The Siberian Pine, the Bobcat, the Moose, The Elk, and The Amur Tiger are a few more examples of keystone species found in Taiga ecosystems. With the exception of a few; however, these are not found at the Zabaikalsky National Park, which is why the Ermine was chosen (More information on the ermine can be found on the FLOW OF NATURE page.
Q.) What other endangered animals are in the Taiga biome?
A.) Other endangered animals that are in the Taiga biome include: the beaver, the Amur tiger, the European mink, the Przewalski Horse, and the Wooden Bison. Endangered plants in the Taiga biome include: the Scots Pine, the Labrador Tea, the Siberian Dwarf Pine, the Helleborine Orchid, and the Long Leaf's Pine.
A.) You can contact our expert, Dr. Susan L. Woodward, or you can go onto the website: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/taiga/?ar_a=1 for more information on the organisms.
Q.) Where can I find more information on the Zabaikalsky National Park?
A.) You can visit their website at http://www.wild-russia.org/bioregion10/Zabaikalsky/zabaik.htm. You can find more information about the organisms that live their, or travel information if you want to see the beautiful landscape for yourself.
Q.) What other keystone species can be found in an ecosystem in the Taiga biome?
A.) The Scotch Pin,e, The Siberian Pine, the Bobcat, the Moose, The Elk, and The Amur Tiger are a few more examples of keystone species found in Taiga ecosystems. With the exception of a few; however, these are not found at the Zabaikalsky National Park, which is why the Ermine was chosen (More information on the ermine can be found on the FLOW OF NATURE page.
Q.) What other endangered animals are in the Taiga biome?
A.) Other endangered animals that are in the Taiga biome include: the beaver, the Amur tiger, the European mink, the Przewalski Horse, and the Wooden Bison. Endangered plants in the Taiga biome include: the Scots Pine, the Labrador Tea, the Siberian Dwarf Pine, the Helleborine Orchid, and the Long Leaf's Pine.
Q.) How has human impact, like Chernobyl, affected the Taiga Biome?
A.) Industries like logging, mining, hydroelectric developments, and the oil and gas projects are reducing the size of the Taiga, especially in Canada and Russia. The chemicals from the factories and mines leak into the surrounding water, and soil; which is having a ghastly effect on the communities that live there.
Q.) How many species of birds are found in the Taiga?
A.) There are approximately 700 species of birds in the Boreal Forests in the United States and the Canada alone.
Q.) Who can I contact if I have any questions about the Taiga
A.) Dr. Susan L. Woodward, you can contact her at [email protected]. She taught biogeography at the Radford University of Virginia for 20 years, and has written many books about ecosystems, including the Taiga.
A.) Industries like logging, mining, hydroelectric developments, and the oil and gas projects are reducing the size of the Taiga, especially in Canada and Russia. The chemicals from the factories and mines leak into the surrounding water, and soil; which is having a ghastly effect on the communities that live there.
Q.) How many species of birds are found in the Taiga?
A.) There are approximately 700 species of birds in the Boreal Forests in the United States and the Canada alone.
Q.) Who can I contact if I have any questions about the Taiga
A.) Dr. Susan L. Woodward, you can contact her at [email protected]. She taught biogeography at the Radford University of Virginia for 20 years, and has written many books about ecosystems, including the Taiga.
Summary
The Zabaikalsky National Park is a large ecosystem in the Taiga biome, which is home to 291 terrestrial animals and 700 species of vascular plants. With a large range of temperatures from -18 to -19 degrees Celsius in the Winter to 12 to 14 degrees Celsius in the Summer, the Zabaikalsky National Park's organisms are adapted to a wide range of environments. This is even true during successions, like a potential glacial movement or the Chernobyl explosion, where the ecosystem is destroyed beyond recognition, as seen with the 14 species of birds that live in close proximity to the site of the explosion. However, due to the eutrophication of many species, native species of the Taiga are being driven out to near extinction, like the Pollan fish.