Trees of the Russian taiga. About trees in the taiga

Taiga is called the “green lungs of the planet” for a reason. The vegetation of these vast forests, the largest of which are the Siberian and North American taiga biomes, maintains the balance of carbon and oxygen in the planet's atmosphere.

The evergreen taiga is divided into light coniferous, consisting mainly of pine and larch, and dark coniferous, dominated by Siberian cedar, spruce and fir. The flora of the taiga is the realm of coniferous trees. Although, small-leaved species (birch, mountain ash, aspen, green alder) are occasionally found here. There are many swamps in these places, with their own ecosystem. Mosses, lichens, shrubs and mushrooms grow everywhere.

Let's take a closer look at some typical taiga plants:

Siberian spruce is one of the basic representatives of the dark coniferous taiga. Its needles, rich in useful substances, essential oils and vitamins, release antibacterial phytoncides into the air. Wood is successfully used in construction. The spruce forest has almost no undergrowth - in conditions of high humidity and shading created by the paws of spruces, only the most shade-loving plants survive.

Fir is a coniferous tree with soft needles. Fir branches are often used by hunters, preparing bedding for spending the night in the taiga. The resin of the tree is used as an antiseptic wound-healing agent, and fir oil is a component of many cosmetics. Fragrant tea is brewed from pine needles. Fir wood is not a valuable building material.

Siberian cedar (Siberian cedar pine) is one of the main species of the dark coniferous taiga. Lives up to 800 years, starting to bear fruit somewhere in the 60th year of life. Each cone contains 30-150 seed nuts, which are readily eaten by both local living creatures and people. Cedar wood has a pleasant reddish color, dense structure, and is widely used in construction and furniture making.

Larch is the most frost-resistant of the taiga trees (can withstand temperatures below -70°C). Its soft needles fall off every autumn and grow anew in the spring. Wood is valuable for construction because of its density, resistance to moisture and decay. Often forms a one-component forest - larch. Almost never found in the dark coniferous taiga.

Juniper is a small shrub that grows everywhere in the taiga. It forms fruits in the form of cones containing sugars, acids, trace elements, as well as a significant amount of phytoncides. Widely used in folk medicine.

From time to time I am visited by thoughts to leave the noisy city, to forget about the eternal rush and the bustle of the city. Go to the taiga under the shadow of the taiga giants and spend the rest of your life there, breathe clean air and be happy that there are still huge areas of terrain covered with tall trees on the planet.

What trees grow in the taiga zone

Coniferous trees predominate in most of this climatic zone, these are fir, spruce, pine, and many others. Despite the fact that most people associate the taiga only with coniferous forests, you can also see in it:

• mountain ash;
• alder and some other deciduous trees.

Taiga trees are rich in various forest gifts: hazelnut, pine nut, resin and some essential oils. In the past, pine needles have been used to treat scurvy and have saved many lives.

Amazing taiga tree

An amazing tree growing on the border of the tundra and taiga is the taiga dwarf. Some individual trees reach the age of two hundred and fifty years. These trees grow exclusively on stones and are small trees. The well-known drug turpentine is obtained from this tree. The content of essential oils in dwarf elfin is twice as high as in pine. Substances obtained from the taiga elfin are widely used in medicine. In general, a very interesting evergreen tree.

Take care of the trees

Taiga forests, consisting of millions of trees and spread over the vast territory of the Far East, Scandinavia and North America, supply oxygen to the entire planet. By creating a separate ecosystem for the residence of thousands of representatives of the animal world, they serve as a reliable shelter and home for them. Mankind mercilessly cuts down forests, destroys entire hectares of untouched forests. I won't be surprised if in a few decades the general condition of the taiga forests will deteriorate greatly. But let's hope for the best. I have been to the taiga and have always tried to preserve its original beauty, not to litter there, not to kindle a fire and not to harm trees in other ways, which I urge you to do as well.

It can be confidently called the “lungs of the Earth”, because the state of the air, the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide depend on them. Rich stocks of timber, mineral deposits are concentrated here, many of which are being discovered to this day.

Location in Russia

The taiga is spreading in a wide strip in our country. Coniferous forests occupy most of Siberia (Eastern, Western), the Urals, the Baikal region, the Far East and the Altai Mountains. The zone originates on the western border of Russia, it stretches to the coast of the Pacific Ocean - the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

The coniferous forests of the taiga border on other climatic zones. In the north, they coexist with the tundra, in the west - with. In some cities of the country, there is an intersection of taiga with forest-steppe and mixed forests.

Location in Europe

The coniferous forests of the taiga cover not only Russia, but also some foreign countries. Among them are the countries of Canada. Throughout the world, taiga massifs occupy a vast territory and are considered the largest zone on the planet.

The extreme boundary of the biome on the south side is located on the island of Hokkaido (Japan). The northern side is bounded by Taimyr. This location explains the leading position of the taiga in terms of length among other natural zones.

Climate

A large biome is located in two climatic zones at once - temperate and subarctic. This explains the diversity of weather conditions in the taiga. The temperate climate ensures warm summers. The average temperature of the natural zone in the summer is 20 degrees above zero. The cold arctic air affects the temperature fluctuations and affects the taiga winters, the air here can be cooled to 45 degrees below zero. In addition, piercing winds are observed at all times of the year.

The coniferous forests of the taiga are characterized by high humidity due to their location in swampy areas and low evaporation. In summer, most of the precipitation falls in the form of light and heavy rains. In winter there is a lot of snow - the thickness of its layer is 50-80 centimeters, it does not melt for 6-7 months. Permafrost is observed in Siberia.

Peculiarities

The largest, longest and richest natural zone is the taiga. Coniferous forests occupy fifteen million square kilometers of the land area of ​​the Earth! The width of the zone in the European part is 800 kilometers, in Siberia - more than 2 thousand kilometers.

The formation of taiga forests began in the past era, before the onset of and However, the zone received a detailed analysis and characteristics only in 1898 thanks to P. N. Krylov, who defined the concept of "taiga" and formulated its main characteristics.

The biome is especially rich in water bodies. Famous Russian rivers originate here - Volga, Lena, Kama, Northern Dvina and others. They cross the taiga of the Yenisei and the Ob. In coniferous forests there are the largest Russian reservoirs - Bratskoye, Rybinsk, Kamskoye. In addition, there is a lot of groundwater in the taiga, which explains the predominance of swamps (especially in Northern Siberia and Canada). Due to the temperate climate and sufficient moisture, there is a rapid development of the plant world.

Taiga subzones

The natural zone is divided into three subzones, which differ in climatic features, flora and fauna.

• Northern. Characterized by a cold climate. It has harsh winters and cool summers. Huge areas of land are occupied by swampy terrain. Forests in most cases are stunted, medium-sized spruces and pines are observed.
• Average. Differs in moderation. The climate is temperate - warm summers, cold but not frosty winters. Many swamps of various types. High humidity. Trees of normal height, mainly blueberry spruce forests sprout.
• South. The most diverse flora and fauna, coniferous forests are observed here. The taiga has an admixture of broad-leaved and small-leaved tree species. The climate is warm, characterized by hot summers, which last for almost four months. Reduced soreness.

Forest types

Depending on the vegetation, several types of taiga are distinguished. The main ones are light coniferous and dark coniferous forests. Along with trees, there are meadows that arose on the site of deforestation.

• Light coniferous type. It is mainly distributed in Siberia. Also found in other areas (Urals, Canada). It is located in a sharply continental climate zone, characterized by abundant rainfall and moderate weather conditions. One of the most common types of trees is pine - a photophilous representative of the taiga. Such forests are spacious and bright. Larch is another common species. Forests are even lighter than pine forests. The crowns of trees are rare, so in such "thickets" a feeling of open area is created.
• dark coniferous type- most common in Northern Europe and mountain ranges (Alps, Altai Mountains, Carpathians). Its territory is located in a temperate and mountainous climate, characterized by high humidity. Fir and spruce predominate here, juniper and dark coniferous pine are less common.

Vegetable world

Even at the beginning of the 19th century, no one divided the natural zones, and their differences and features were not known. Fortunately, today geography has been studied in more detail, and the necessary information is available to everyone. The coniferous forest of the taiga - trees, plants, shrubs ... What is the characteristic and interesting flora of this zone?

In the forests - weakly expressed or absent undergrowth, which is explained by insufficient amount of light, especially in dark coniferous thickets. There is a monotony of moss - as a rule, only a green species can be found here. Shrubs grow - currants, junipers, and shrubs - lingonberries, blueberries.

The type of forest depends on climatic conditions. The western side of the taiga is characterized by the dominance of European and Siberian spruce. Spruce-fir forests grow in mountainous regions. Clusters of larches stretch to the east. The Okhotsk coast is rich in a variety of tree species. In addition to coniferous representatives, the taiga is also fraught with deciduous trees. consist of aspen, alder, birch.

Animal world of the taiga

The fauna of the coniferous forests of the taiga is diverse and unique. A wide variety of insects live here. Nowhere is there such a number of fur-bearing animals, including ermine, sable, hare, weasel. Climatic conditions are favorable for sedentary animals, but unacceptable for cold-blooded creatures. Only a few species of amphibians and reptiles live in the taiga. Their low numbers are associated with severe winters. The rest of the inhabitants have adapted to the cold seasons. Some of them fall into hibernation or anabiosis, while their vital activity slows down.

What animals live in coniferous forests? The taiga, where there are so many shelters for animals and an abundance of food, is characterized by the presence of such predators as lynx, brown bear, wolf, fox. Ungulates live here - roe deer, bison, elk, deer. On the branches of trees and under them live rodents - beavers, squirrels, mice, chipmunks.

Birds

More than 300 species of birds nest in the forest thickets. Particular diversity is observed in the eastern taiga - capercaillie, hazel grouse, some varieties of owls and woodpeckers live here. Forests are distinguished by high humidity and numerous reservoirs, therefore they are especially widespread here. Some representatives of coniferous expanses have to migrate to the south in winter, where living conditions are more favorable. Among them are the Siberian thrush and the forest warbler.

man in taiga

Human activities do not always favorably affect the state of nature. Numerous fires caused by the negligence and thoughtlessness of people, deforestation and mining lead to a decrease in the number of forest wildlife.

Picking berries, mushrooms, nuts are typical activities popular with the local population for which the autumn taiga is known. Coniferous forests are the main supplier of timber resources. Here are the largest deposits of minerals (oil, gas, coal). Thanks to moist and fertile soil, agriculture is developed in the southern regions. Breeding of animals and hunting for wild animals is widespread.

The flora of the taiga is striking in its great diversity; here you can find trees, shrubs, and herbs. It is not for nothing that the taiga has earned the “title” of the green lungs of our planet. It is taiga plants that largely provide the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen on Earth.

Let's take a closer look at the plants of the taiga.

Taiga: what is it?

The taiga forest is huge ecosystem, whose geographical position is the north of Eurasia, the North American continent and Scandinavia.

Basically, the plant world is represented precisely coniferous plants, although there are many deciduous trees: aspen, mountain ash, birch, alder. Taiga cannot be called a place with favorable conditions, which is why its inhabitants, both animals and plants, have to adapt to the harsh unkind climate.

The evergreen taiga is heterogeneous, inside it stand out:

• light coniferous (includes larch and pine);
• dark coniferous (spruce, fir and cedar grow here).

Due to the fact that there are a lot of swamps on the territory of the taiga, expanse here is moss and lichen. There are also shrubs. What plants are most typical for taiga places?

Coniferous representatives

deciduous trees

shrubs

Shrubs

Interesting! You can also meet shrubs in the taiga forests, which, according to tradition, are perceived as garden ones: raspberries, wild roses.

All plants and animals that nature has “settled” in taiga forests are resistant to frost, have a good root system that can develop in cold or waterlogged soils. This is why there are so many coniferous plants here, since needles are a special form of leaves that help to reduce the evaporation of moisture.

Taiga – it is a biome characterized by the predominance of coniferous forests. In 1898, the botanist P.N. Krylov for the first time gave a detailed analysis of the concept of taiga. He described it as a dark coniferous boreal dense forest and contrasted it with pine and larch forests and forests.

Taiga of Russia - description.

The taiga zone in Russia is the largest landscape zone in terms of area, the area of ​​the taiga is 15 million square kilometers, the width of the taiga is 2150 kilometers. This piece of land was formed before the advent of glaciers. A huge part of the taiga is mountain ranges that are covered with taiga forests. These areas include Altai, the Urals, the Sayans, and the Baikal region.

The climate of the Russian taiga.

A characteristic feature of the Russian taiga is the natural, almost untouched flora and fauna. Winters here are long and cold, with deep loose snow, the temperature can drop to minus 50°C, and in summer it can rise to +35°C. Due to high temperatures and almost no precipitation in summer, large-scale forest fires occur in the taiga.

The nature of the Russian taiga.

In the taiga in Siberia there are hard-to-reach thickets with swampy soils, windbreaks and dead woods. In the Amur region, the coniferous taiga smoothly passes into the large-leaved part. There are also deciduous trees, such as oak, birch, aspen, alder, willow, linden. Until the middle of the 19th century, the taiga was considered unsuitable for habitation, and even more so for agriculture. This was due to the presence of mountain ranges, wetlands, the severity of the climate and the presence of a large number of wild animals. But in 1896 a special law was issued, according to which these areas were subject to special research. As a result, it turned out that in many places in the taiga the soil is subject to agriculture, moreover, due to the large number of swamps, the taiga is saturated with microelements, which allow to increase the yield by several times.

The taiga of Russia is divided into three subzones: southern, northern and middle. In the northern part, low-growing trees predominate: spruces, pines and cedars. In the middle zone, only blueberry spruce forests grow. The southern part has a greater variety of flora. The height of centuries-old trees in the taiga prevents sunlight from entering, so there is practically no undergrowth, but there is a lot of moss cover on which shrubs grow remarkably: juniper, honeysuckle, blueberries, lingonberries. Medicinal plants and herbs such as oxalis and wintergreen also grow in the taiga.

Soils of the Russian taiga.

The high moisture content of the soil in the taiga has a beneficial effect on its chemical composition. The content of mineral fertilizers is very high, the content of humus is 6%, potassium 2.5%, nitrogen 0.2%, phosphorus 0.17%.

Taiga of Russia - animals and birds.

The fauna of the taiga is wide and varied. In the taiga of Russia, despite the low temperatures, there are a lot of sedentary animals that live here all year round. Animals have long adapted to the peculiarities of these places. For example, the reindeer roams, depending on the season, from the tundra to the taiga and back. About 260 species of birds inhabit the taiga, some of them are listed in the Red Book. Some fly away for the winter to warmer climes, while others live and nest in the taiga all the time. Very often in the taiga you can meet the simplest types of birds, such as capercaillie, hazel grouse, keklik, Asian Siberian Grouse. There are species of birds that are easier to hear than to see, namely the nightingale, bluetail, rubythroat, and nutcracker.

Also, several species of owls and woodpeckers live in the taiga. It is impossible not to mention such taiga birds as the Siberian thrush, the green forest warbler, the white-necked zonotrichia - these bird species migrate to the south. Of the reptiles and amphibians, the taiga has very few species that have been able to adapt to the harsh climate. The Amur frog lives in the taiga, basking in the summer on stones heated by the sun. As a rule, in winter, amphibians and reptiles hibernate.

The taiga is also inhabited by viviparous species of reptiles, such as the common viper and lizard, many dipterous blood-sucking insects, such as midges and mosquitoes, horseflies and midges, which are carriers of various infectious diseases, including river blindness.

Of the animals in the taiga, bears, foxes, wolves, lynxes, sables, otters, wolverines live.

Infrequently, you will have the opportunity to see the spreading antlers of the reindeer and red deer in wildlife. It is in the taiga that the habitat of these species is located.

The taiga is also inhabited by moose and roe deer, numerous species and subspecies of rodents and mammals: hares, squirrels, beavers, chipmunks.

Quite often in the taiga you can meet hedgehogs, ferrets, minks, martens, Altai moles.

The taiga of Russia is a unique place on the entire globe. Massive forest lands are called the "lungs of the planet", since the oxygen balance of the atmosphere directly depends on the state of these places. In the taiga there are industrial wood processing plants, mineral deposits (oil, gas and coal) and precious metals are being developed. Local residents gather medicinal herbs, berries and mushrooms in the Russian taiga, hunt fur-bearing animals.