Starter quiz
- Where is the taiga biome mainly found?
- Near the equator
- In tropical regions
- In the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere ✓
- In coastal areas
-
- What type of trees dominate the taiga biome?
- Deciduous trees
- Evergreen coniferous trees ✓
- Palm trees
- Mangroves
-
- What is the climate like in the taiga?
- Hot and dry
- Cold winters, mild summers ✓
- Warm all year
- Very wet with heavy rainfall
-
- How do trees in the taiga adapt to cold conditions?
- They grow wide, flat leaves
- They shed their leaves in winter
- They have needle-like leaves and thick bark ✓
- They grow quickly all year round
-
- What kind of animals live in the taiga?
- Camels and lizards
- Jaguars and parrots
- Bears, wolves and moose ✓
- Kangaroos and koalas
-
- Why is deforestation a major threat to the taiga?
- It makes the soil more fertile
- It causes habitat loss for wildlife ✓
- It helps trees grow faster
- It increases rainfall
-
Exit quiz
- Match the keywords with their definitions.
- Biodiversity⇔a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem ✓
- Nutrients⇔chemical substances found in all biotic features which aid survival ✓
- Interdependent⇔when two or more biotic features depend on each other to survive ✓
- The taiga has a __________ biodiversity compared to the tropical rainforest.
- low ✓
- high
- similar
-
- The taiga has a low biodiversity for several reasons:
- Cold climate⇔long, freezing winters make it difficult for many species to survive ✓
- Short growing season⇔species have 3-5 months to grow and reproduce before winter returns ✓
- Poor soil quality⇔the soil lacks nutrients, making it hard for plants to grow ✓
- Limited food supply⇔fewer plants = less food for herbivores, which limits predators ✓
- The nutrient cycle in the taiga is __________ due to cold temperatures and acidic soil. Most nutrients come from decomposing needles and limited organic matter.
- slow ✓
- fast
- efficient
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The taiga has a lower rate of productivity than tropical rainforests and less active nutrient cycling.
- The taiga support much lower levels of biodiversity than tropical rainforests.
Common misconception
The taiga has rich, fertile soil that supports abundant plant life.
Taiga soil is nutrient-poor due to slow decomposition in cold temperatures. Most nutrients come from decomposing needles and limited organic matter.
Keywords
Biodiversity - a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem
Nutrients - chemical substances found in all biotic features which are important for survival
Interdependent - when two or more biotic features like plants or animals depend or rely on each other to survive
+