Taiga vs Rainforest

• The Taiga forest has extremely cold winters and warmer summers, whereas the Rainforest is generally much wetter and warmer, and doesn't experience major temperature changes like the Taiga.
• The Rainforest has higher levels of biodiversity than the Taiga.
• The Taiga is more Northern and is found in places like Canada, America and Russia. However, the rainforest is much closer to the equator and is found in places like Brazil, Kenya and Congo.
• The Nutrient Cycle is the circulation of nutrients between biotic and abiotic elements. This ensures that plant life receives elements such as Nitrogen, Magnesium and Potassium. Nutrients can be added to an ecosystem by precipitation and weathering.
• The Taiga has a simple nutrient cycle as it is colder, which means there are less decomposers, which means there is less decay. Less decomposers also means more litter.
• The Rainforest has a complex nutrient cycle as there is more photosynthesis, which results in more biomass and more growth.
• In the Taiga, precipitation levels are low and chemical weathering is limited by cold temperatures. Most nutrients are within the litter because pine needles decay slowly in cold temperatures and therefore release the nutrients slowly. The biomass store is small because trees only grow for a few months each year.
• Rainforests have a larger biomass store, large growth transfer and larger leachings output.
• Net Primary Productivity is a measure of how much new plant and animal growth is added each year. Measured in grams per square meter.
• Taiga nutrient cycles have cold and icy conditions with their main store being litter and having slow transfers due to the cold. The rainforest's conditions are warm and wet with high humidity, their main store is biomass and they have fast transfers due to good conditions.
• Adaptation is a modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence. An adaptation is passed from generation to generation.
• Rainforest flora adaptations:

  • large leaves with a large surface area at the bottom of the canopy, so they can absorb enough sunlight.
  • waxy layers on leaves, making them waterproof, prevent fungi from growing on wet surfaces.
  • Buttress roots stay on the surface of the rainforest to retrieve nutrients.
  • Tendrils are sucker roots that can stick to and climb up trees in order to reach sunlight.
  • Drip tip leaves are shaped so that the water slides off, preventing fungi growth.
  • Lianas are climbing plants that's stems cling to the trees and climb towards the sunlight.
• Taiga adaptations:

  • short growing season, typically between 4 - 5 months
  • plants and animals are specially adapted to the cold climate, amphibians and reptiles are rare
  • many of the animals have thick oily fur to help retain body heat
• There are two key adapted fauna examples for the rainforest:

  • Jaguar
  • Spider Monkey
• There are two key adapted fauna examples for the Taiga:

  • Black Bear
  • Canadian Goose
• The Jaguar, located in the tropical rainforest, has adapted by having a strong jaw, that can break a tortoise shell. This allows it to have a wide range of prey and reduces likelihood of starvation.
• The spider monkey, located in the tropical rainforest, has adapted by having a prehensive tail, which can be used as an additional limb. This allows it to hang on to trees and avoid predators on the ground.
• The black bear, located in the taiga, has adapted to hibernate, by sleeping through the winter and living off their own body fat, black bears avoid starvation in the winter when food is limited.
• The Canadian Goose, located in the Taiga, fly in a V shape and can travel up to 1500 miles in 24 hours, they migrate South, allowing them to get food in winter and breed in warmer areas. Their speed also allows them to cover more distance and increases access to food when the temperatures drop.
• Pests reduce the commercial value of the forest, preventing it from being sold as timber. Killing tree species alters the food web, dramatically changing the ecosystem. Pests change the landscape from forest to open landscape with fewer trees. 2.5 million hectares of spruce trees have been destroyed by the spruce bark beetle in the Kenal Peninsula. In Canada, mountain pine beetles have destroyed 16 million hectares of lodgepole pine forest.
• Acid rain destroys the Taiga by damaging the pine needles and their ability to photosynthesise, when Taiga soils become too acidic, aluminium compounds are released, damaging tree roots, these weaker roots cant absorb nutrients. These weak trees are then vulnerable to disease and insect attack. The damaged soils contain less calcium and magnesium.