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The Taiga Boreal Forest
By: Charlie Lichauer, Harrison Simons, and Hunter Williams
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Purpose

We chose to do the Taiga Boreal biome because we believe it is the optimal host
to excite the viewers. The taiga is a cold climate found in northern parts of the
world. It is also called a coniferous forest, due to its abundance of Evergreen
trees and other trees that bear needles and cones.
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Map
The Taiga Boreal Forest is located in the Northern parts of the
world as shown on the map.
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The Climate in the Taiga

The Climate in the Taiga climate is typically cold weather year round. Winters
here typically last about 5-7 months. The summers are usually very rainy with
12-33 inches per year. The average temperature here is around -32 degrees
Fahrenheit. The temperatures in the summers are 20 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit
and winters -65 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Environment
The Taiga has a cold climate which can be found in the northern parts of the
world. It is also called a coniferous forest due to the trees that have needles and
produce cones. It has cold and bitter winters with temperatures that drop below
zero consistently with mild summers. Summers are short, and in the winter there
is very little daylight. Despite these harsh conditions, wildlife has adapted to the
environment and is home to many species of birds and other animals.
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Common Animals of the Taiga Boreal
Forest
1. Snowshoe Hare: Found in North America, known for its snowshoe hindleg paw that helps it to
traverse snow and its seasonal coats (summer coat a brown/camo like color, and winter
coat a pure white color) that allow it to better camouflage itself in depending on the season.

2. Gray Wolf: Found in North America, also known as Timber Wolves, normally travel in packs
which make these wolves apex predators when hunting with their pack. Their thick fur and
high metabolism help them stay warm, downside they need to eat more often during winter.

3. Long-eared Owl: Found in both North America and Northern Asia, this nocturnal owl is a
stealth predator with the ability of silent flight and superb hearing great enough to identify
prey, locate, and navigate to the prey in complete darkness.

4. Red Fox: Found in North America and Northern Europe, this intelligent fox is a mostly
nocturnal stalker that preys on small game and catches them with it’s keen sense of
hearing and its ability to dig extremely well.
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Common Animals of the Taiga Boreal
Forest (continued)
5. River Otter: Found in North America near fresh water usually consisting of dense vegetation,
this slim mammal has two types of fur on its body a fluffy layer that pads down when it
is wet to increase aquatic mobility and a dense layer that helps it retain heat during the
harsher months. Its equipped with sensitive whiskers that allow it to sense vibrations
under water that help it find its pray and sharp dagger like teeth and claws to hunt.

6. Stoat: Also known as Ermines are found in North America and Eurasia. This little mammal has
a different way of hunting that works extremely well surprisingly. By using its great eye
sight and hearing it will find prey that it will lure in by spasming it body to hypnotize its
prey and when the prey is close enough it strikers with razor sharp teeth and hooked
canines. After it is hooked into the animal it will not let go until the other animal tires out
then the stoat will finish off its prey. It survives harsh winters by digging burrows in
which they nest in.
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Common Animals of the Taiga Boreal
Forest (continued)
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Simple Taiga Boreal Food Web
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Common Plants of the Taiga Boreal
Forest

▪ There are very few plants in this area due to the harsh conditions in the
Taiga. However, there are a few types of berries in the biome, some of which
can be poisonous. Lichens and some types of moss can also grow in the
area. There are also coniferous trees in this biome, some of which include
spruce, fir, and pine. All of the trees in this area can be classified as
Evergreens.
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Threats in this biome
Other than the cold taking us down, basically any animal that is a predator who is big
enough and is outfitted to take on medium to large game like us humans could be a threat
to our well being. Depending on what is attacking us whether it be a bear or wolves, we
always hear that a fire is one of the best defenses. This is true but there are other ways to
defend yourself without putting your source of heat in danger of going out.

Some examples are:

1. If a bear is coming close you want to avoid all confrontation if possible, make plenty
of noise and make yourself look as big as possible. If a cub is with the bear make no noise
and make yourself looks as non-threatening as possible by going into a fetal position with
your back facing to the sky.
2. When dealing with wolves get any food you need and climb the closest tree and
sleep the night there by hanging your food in a place where the wolves can get it and get
comfy on a sturdy tree limb and tie yourself to the trunk of the tree. Wolves usually take a
common path for hunting and if wolves come to near your camp sight, the next day pack up
and move out so you may have a chance of being out of the hunting path.
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Our Solution to Shelter in the Taiga
▪ Depending on what time of year it is the possibilities and resources are limited.

▪ In winter you may want to build a snow trench, a snow trench is a dug out cavity of snow large
enough you can lay in, then you acquire pinecones or small sticks to lay on. To cover yourself
from the elements get large limbs and lay them parallel across the trench and cover it up with
branches (preferably branches with leaves). A snow trench is a risky but quick way to get
shelter for yourself.

▪ In summer a tipi setup with a oxygen canal for a fire is a quick and easy way to protect yourself
from the elements.
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Survival items needed
• About 30ft of Manila rope

• Duck tape (for obvious reasons)

• Filet knife for skinning and fileting meat

• Spool of heavy duty salt water fishing line

• Multitool (essential on multitool is a knife and wire cutters)

• Emergency blanket

• Flint and magnesium (magnesium instead of steel or iron because it is lighter)

• Tarp

• Spare rip cloth

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How would the survivors survive in this
biome?

▪ The survivors will have to bring Heavy clothes to the Taiga to be able to
withstand the severe cold. In addition to bringing heavy clothes, the survivors
will need to have knowledge about certain types of poisonous berries, and
what animals could be a major threat to them. Also, the survivors will need to
be able to set up some sort of trap to be able to catch small game, for
example a dead fall trap or a snare of some sort.
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How the Survivors Will not Destroy the
Environment

▪ The survivors will not harm the animals unless they need to eat
them

▪ The survivors will be limited on how many trees they will be able
to cut down

▪ We will also regulate the fires and other things that they do that
could cause destruction that can not be controlled
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Conclusion

▪ The cold winter temperatures will provide a huge challenge as the survivors
will have to find a heat source fast. Food will be hard to find because there are
few plants and berries there. The survivors will be tested on their knowledge
of which berries are poisonous and which are not, creating an even bigger
struggle for the survivors. Also, there is heavy snowfall in the winter, and they
would have to find shelter fast. As well as very little plants and berries, there
are many predators, such as wolves, boars, wolverines, lynx, and bears. The
animals would make a very good food source if the survivors can manage to
kill them.
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Bibliography

▪ https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=92

▪ http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/taigaP.html

▪ https://sites.google.com/site/taigabiomeproject15/weather

▪ http://www.bioexpedition.com/taiga-biome/

▪ http://www.offthegridnews.com

▪ http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm