The Boreal Forest
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The boreal forest is the largest terrestrial* biome in the world. It covers almost 50% of Canada's landscape. It is located south of the tundra in the northern hemisphere.
Climate
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The climate in the boreal forest is very harsh with long winters and short summers.The annual precipitation is approximately 30cm to 85cm due to the occasional warm and wet periods, however much of it is falling snow. In the boreal forest the temperatures under freezing for roughly half the year and can usually drop to -40 degrees Celsius.
Plants and Soil
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The thin top soil of solid bedrock* in the boreal forest is deemed acidic and is also poor in nutrients. Plants such as mosses and ferns are known as shade lovers and grow on the forest floor. Some tree species are limited due to the climate. Trees at the northern edge are stunted by poor growing conditions.
Animals
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Animals tend to grow thicker hair during the winter to adapt to the cold conditions. The boreal forest contains a wide range of animals such as deer, moose and snowshoe hairs, these would be considered herbivores. Carnivores in the boreal forest includes bears, wolves and lynx.The insect eating birds tend to migrate south in the fall while the seed eating birds will stay year-round.
*terrestrial - something or someone of this world or earth *bedrock - solid rock that is beneath soil on Earth's soil