Lesson video

Hello and welcome.

My name is Ms. Harrison.

I'm so excited to be learning with you today.

Today's lesson is called Biotic and Abiotic Characteristics of the Taiga Biome.

Grab everything you might need for today's lesson and let's begin our learning.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll understand the interdependence of biotic and abiotic characteristics of the taiga biome.

Before we can begin this learning, we need to define the keywords that we'll be using throughout today's lesson.

The keywords are biome, climate, biotic, and abiotic.

Biome, this is a large scale ecosystem with specific climate, plants and animals.

Climate, this is the average weather conditions in a region over a long period of time.

Biotic, these are the living components of the environment such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. Abiotic, these are the non-living components, such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, soil quality, and sunlight.

Now that we've defined these keywords, we can begin our learning.

The first question we are going to explore in today's lesson is, where is the taiga biome located? The taiga is one of the Earth's major biomes and is the largest land-based biome in the world.

It stretches across northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, covering vast areas of land.

Despite its size, the taiga has a low biodiversity compared to other biomes.

This means that there are fewer species of plants and animals living there.

The main reason for this is the harsh climate.

Winters in the taiga are long, freezing, and can last up to six months.

While summers are short and relatively cool.

Because of this, many species struggle to survive in such extreme conditions.

Another challenge is the poor quality of soil.

The soil in the taiga is thin and lacks many nutrients that plants need to grow.

It is often frozen for much of the year, making it difficult for deep rooted plants to thrive.

As a result, only certain types of trees like coniferous trees, are able to grow in this environment.

The combination of cold temperature, short growing seasons and poor soil means that fewer plants can survive in the taiga.

This also affects the animals that live there, so they have to adapt to the harsh conditions with limited food sources.

However, some animals like wolves, lynxes, and moose have special adaptations that allow them to survive in these challenging biomes.

The taiga biome is found in the northern regions of the world, just below the Arctic Circle.

It stretches across three continents, North America, Europe, and Asia, forming a vast continuous belt of forest.

In North America, the taiga covers much of Canada and extends into parts of Alaska.

In Europe, it spreads across Scandinavia, including Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

The largest portion of the taiga is in Asia, where it stretches across Russia, from its western borders, all the way to Siberia in the east.

The biome is located approximately 50 degrees and 70 degrees latitude in the northern hemisphere.

It forms a natural border between the Arctic tundra to the north and the temperate forest or grasslands to the south.

The map on your screen shows the distribution of the taiga biome.

How would you describe this biome? Aisha has said, "The taiga biome is only found in the northern hemisphere," and she's right.

The taiga is located in several continents.

We can see it's located in North America, Europe, and Asia.

The largest taiga biome in the world is found in Russia.

In fact, the taiga covers 60% of Russia's land area, making it the most dominant biome in the country.

Because of its enormous size, the Russian taiga is often called the lungs of the northern hemisphere.

This is because the vast forest play a crucial role in producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, helping to regulate the Earth's climate.

To give you an idea just how big Russia's taiga is, it covers an area roughly the same size as the United States.

This makes it one of the most important ecosystems on the planet, supporting a variety of wildlife and acting as a major carbon sink, which helps slow down climate change.

However, despite its importance, the taiga faces threats from deforestation, wildfires, and climate change.

How much of Russia's land area does the taiga cover? Is it A, 10%, B, 45%, C, 60%? Pause the video here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is C, 60%.

Well done.

I would now like you to label the continents where the taiga is found.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the continents where the taiga is found is Asia, North America and Europe.

Well done if you identified those correctly.

I would now like you to describe the distribution of the taiga biome.

Laura has said, she knows that the largest taiga biome is located in Russia.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Let's check our answers.

Your answer may have included some of the following points.

The taiga biome is found in the northern hemisphere, stretching across North America, Europe, and Asia.

It is located between 50 degrees and 70 degrees latitude, just below the Arctic tundra.

Russia has the largest taiga forest in the world.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

We're now going to explore our second question of today's lesson.

What are the biotic and abiotic characteristics? The taiga has distinctive biotic and abiotic characteristics.

Let's take a look at the biotic characteristics.

These are plants, animals, people.

And the abiotic characteristics are climate, soil, and water.

True or false? Abiotic factors in the taiga, like the soil, are living components.

While biotic factors like plants are non-living.

Pause the video here whilst you decide if this statement is true or false, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, this statement is false.

I would now like you to explain why.

Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic, the reason why the statement is false is because abiotic factors are the non-living elements of an ecosystem such as soil, water, and temperature.

Biotic factors on the other hand, are the living components, including plants, animals, and people.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

The taiga is dominated by coniferous trees, which are the most common type of vegetation in this biome.

These trees thrive in the cold climate and nutrient-poor soil where few other plants can survive.

The most common coniferous trees found in the taiga include pines and spruces.

Unlike deciduous trees which shed their leaves seasonally, coniferous trees remain green throughout the year.

Their presence helps them shape the entire ecosystem by providing shelter and food for many of the animals that live in the taiga.

Because the taiga experiences long, harsh winters and short growing seasons, very few other tree species can survive here.

This is why conifers trees dominate the landscape, stretching across vast areas of the northern hemisphere.

What type of trees are most common in the taiga? Is it A, coniferous trees, B, deciduous trees, C, small shrubs, too cold for trees, or D, mangroves? Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play When you're ready to check your answers.

Excellent, the answer is A, coniferous trees.

Excellent work on this.

Fewer animals live in the taiga compared to other forest biomes, because of the harsh climate and limited food supply.

The long, freezing winters and short summers make survival difficult for many species.

However, some animals have adapted to these challenging conditions.

Large predators such as bears and wolves, roam the taiga hunting for prey, and using thick fur to withstand the cold.

Owls are also common in the biome, using their keen eyesight and hearing to hunt small animals in the snow covered landscape.

Because of the extreme conditions, many animals in the taiga must either hibernate, migrate, or develop special adaptations to survive in this tough environment.

Very few people live in the taiga because of its harsh climate and limited resources.

The freezing winters, short summers, and poor soil make it difficult for large populations to settle permanently.

However, some indigenous communities have lived in the taiga for thousands of years.

They rely on hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding to survive, using the natural resources available to them.

Many of these communities live in a semi nomadic lifestyle, moving from place to place throughout the year.

This is because resources such as food and shelter are often too scarce to support permanent settlements.

By moving with the seasons, they can follow migrating animals and find better conditions for survival.

The taiga biome has subarctic climate, meaning it experiences cold winters and short, mild summers.

Temperatures in winter can drop well below freezing, sometimes reaching as low as -30 degrees.

While summer temperatures are usually between 10 degrees and 20 degrees.

Precipitation in the taiga is low, with most areas receiving only 300 to 900 millimetres of rainfall per year, similar to some dry grasslands.

However, because temperatures are so cold for much of the year, moisture often stays in the form of snow and ice rather than rain.

These extreme climate conditions make it difficult for many plants and animals to survive, which is why the taiga has lower biodiversity compared to other forest biomes.

The curvature of the Earth affects how solar energy is distributed across the planet.

Because Earth is round, the angle at which the sun's rays hit the surface changes.

In areas that are near the equator, the sun's rays hit Earth more directly, meaning the energy is concentrated in smaller areas.

This makes it hotter and leads to more solar energy being absorbed by the surface.

However, as you move towards the poles, the sun's rays hit the Earth at a much more shallow angle.

This means the solar energy is spread out over a larger area, so it's much less concentrated.

As a result, the poles receive far less energy and are much colder compared to regions closer to the equator.

The taiga is located between 50 degrees and 70 degrees latitude, which places it in the northern part of the Earth.

In these regions, the suns rays are spread over a wide area because of the Earth's curvature.

This means that the solar energy is not concentrated in one spot, which leads to lower temperatures in these northern latitudes.

Since the sun's heat is dispersed over a larger surface area, the heat is less intense, and as a result, the taiga experiences cold winters and short, cool summers.

This helps explain why the taiga has such harsh climate that makes it difficult for many plants and animals to survive.

The taiga experiences cold, dry winters due to high air pressure and cold, sinking air.

This leads to stable dry weather during the winter months.

High pressure areas cause the air to sink, preventing clouds from forming, which means there is very little precipitation.

Around 60 degrees north, there is a low pressure zone where air rises and cools, but this doesn't bring heavy rain like low pressure areas at lower latitudes.

This is because of the polar front, where cold polar air meets warmer air.

It's much weaker in the taiga region compared to areas closer to the equator.

Additionally, cold air holds much less moisture than warmer air, so even if there is more moisture in the air, it's not enough to cause significant rainfall.

True or false, the taiga has cold dry winters due to low air pressure, and warm rising air, which causes stable, dry weather.

Pause the video here whilst you decide if this statement is true or false, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is false.

I would now like you to explain why.

Pause here and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The reason why this is false is because the taiga has cold, dry winters due to high air pressure and cold, sinking air, which causes stable, dry weather.

Well done if you explained that correctly.

Climate graphs are used to analyse the climate of a location.

To read monthly rainfall, you use the scale labelled, rainfall.

A bar graph is used to display rainfall.

To read monthly temperatures, you use the scale labelled, temperature.

A line graph is used to display temperature.

The taiga receives low precipitation, averaging between 300 to 900 millimetres per year.

Most of this precipitation falls as snow, particularly during the long, cold winters.

The combination of the cold climate and dry conditions means that rainfall is rare in the taiga, and when it does occur, it's usually in the summer, but it's still relatively light.

Because most of the precipitation falls as snow, the taiga can be covered by deep snow for large parts of the year.

This can make the environment seem quite harsh, as the snow can block out sunlight, and make it difficult for plants and animals to survive during the colder months.

Laura has noted that the taiga plants will have to be well adapted to having little rainfall.

The temperature in the taiga varies dramatically between seasons.

During the winter, the average temperature can drop to around -30 degrees, making it one of the coldest biomes on Earth.

The long, harsh winters are defining feature of the taiga, with temperatures staying well below freezing for months at a time.

In contrast, in the summer months, it's much milder, with average temperatures reaching around 15 degrees.

This short, cool summer allows some plants to grow and animals to find food, but the growing season is very brief.

The extreme difference between winter and summer temperatures is one of the reasons why the taiga is so unique, and difficult for so many species to survive in.

Andeep said, "I can understand why there are few plants and animals or people living there.

It is far too cold in winter." I would like you to identify which month has the highest average temperature.

Pause the video here whilst do you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is C, July.

Well done if you managed to identify that correctly.

The soil in the taiga is thin and acidic and nutrient-poor.

This is largely due to slow decomposition that occurs in the biome.

The cold temperature of the taiga slows down the breakdown of plant material, which means nutrients are not recycled as quickly as they are in warmer climates.

Additionally, needle leaves from the coniferous trees such as pines and spruces, fall to the ground and break down slowly.

As they decompose, they release acids into the soil, making it more acidic over time.

Another factor contributing to poor soil quality is permafrost, which is frozen ground that stays frozen for most of the year.

This prevents plant roots from penetrating deeply into the soil, and limits the amount of water and nutrients plants can access.

The combination of these factors makes the soil in the taiga challenging for plants to grow in.

Low temperatures in the taiga also affect accessibility of water for plants and animals.

During summer months and spring, the snow and ice melt create bogs, lakes and rivers, which provide plenty of surface water.

This allows plants to grow and animals to drink, as the warmer weather makes water more available.

However, in winter, the situation changes.

The water in the taiga is locked in ice and snow, making it inaccessible to most plants and animals.

With temperatures dropping to extreme lows, water sources freeze, and many species must adapt by conserving water, or relying on stored food until thaw of spring.

What is one reason for the taiga's poor soil quality? Is it A, heavy rainfall washes away nutrients or leaches them into bedrock, B, slow decomposition of plant material due to cold temperatures, C, repeated volcanic activity makes the soil too acidic, D, as a result of glacial outwash, the soil is mostly sand and gravel.

Pause the video here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is B, slow decomposition of plant material due to cold temperatures, well done.

What happens to water in the taiga during summer? Is it A, water is absorbed quickly by the soil due to high temperatures leaving the ground dry, B, water remains frozen year round with no change in availability, C, melt water creates bogs, rivers, and lakes, providing water for plants and animals.

Pause here and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Excellent, the answer is C.

Meltwater creates bogs, rivers and lakes, providing water for plants and animals.

Well done on this task, you've done brilliantly.

I would now like you to complete the table below on the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the taiga.

The characteristics you are focusing on are plants, animals, climate and soil.

I would like you to identify if this is either biotic or abiotic, and provide a description.

Pause here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Brilliant work, let's check our answers.

Your answers could have included the following points.

For plants, they're biotic, and they're dominated by pine and spruce trees that can survive cold winters.

Animals, biotic.

Common animals include wolves, bears that are adapted to cold temperatures.

Climate, this is abiotic.

The taiga has long, cold winters, as low as -30 degrees, and short, mild summers with average temperatures around 15 degrees.

Soil, this is also abiotic.

The soil is acidic and nutrient-poor, with slow decomposition due to low temperatures and permafrost.

Excellent work on this task, you've done brilliantly.

We're now going to explore our final question of today's lesson.

How is the taiga interdependent? The biotic living and abiotic non-living characteristics of the taiga are interdependent, meaning, they rely on each other to survive.

For example, the abiotic factors like the cold temperature, poor soil, and low precipitation, shape the types of plants and animals that can live there.

Only certain species like coniferous trees, and cold adapted animals, like wolves and moose, can survive in these tough conditions.

At the same time, the biotic factors like trees, plants, and animals help influence the abiotic factors.

The coniferous trees, for instance, provide shelter and food for animals, while their fallen needles make the soil more acidic, which impacts the types of plants that can grow there.

In turn, the soil's quality and temperature affect the health of plants, which animals rely on for food.

This balance between living and non-living elements is essential for the survival of the taiga's ecosystem.

If one factor changes, it can have a ripple effect on the entire biome.

Jacob has said, "If the temperature begins to change, this will impact on animals' habitat, and could cause them to eventually become extinct, is that right?" Yes, Jacob is exactly correct in what he's saying.

Climate change plays a huge role in shaping the biotic characteristics of the taiga, influencing the type of plants and animals that can survive there.

For example, cold temperatures in the taiga mean that plants grow slowly.

This leads to fewer plants on the forest floor, which means there is less food available for herbivores, resulting in fewer of them in the biome.

The low rainfall in the taiga also affects plant life.

Trees have small, needle-like leaves to help reduce water loss through evaporation.

This is an important adaptation to survive in the dry conditions.

The harsh winters also shape animal behaviour.

Some animals like bears, hibernate during the cold months, while others, such as migratory birds, migrate to warmer areas to find food.

Certain animals like wolves and moose, are adapted to cope with very cold temperatures, with thick fur coats to keep them warm.

In this way, the cold climate of the taiga affect both the types of plants that grow, and the ways animals survive, creating a unique and challenging environment.

The poor acidic soil in the taiga limits plant growth, which means reduced nutrients for both plants and animals.

Plants and animals that live in the taiga are highly specialised to cope with the low nutrient conditions.

This increases interdependence between biotic and abiotic components.

Biotic characteristics in the taiga don't just affect plants and animals in the biome.

They also impact abiotic characteristics of the environment.

For example, the trees in the taiga, particularly the coniferous trees like pine and spruces, store carbon through photosynthesis.

This helps regulate global temperatures by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting as a natural carbon sink, and helping mitigate climate change.

Another way biotic factors influence the abiotic environment is through fallen needles from coniferous trees.

As these needles decompose, they create acidic soil, which limits the growth of other plants.

This acidification of the soil further restricts the type of vegetation that can grow in the taiga, affecting the entire food chain.

In this way, the living components of the taiga not only shape each other's survival, but also impact non-living elements of the biome, creating a delicate balance that keeps the ecosystem functioning.

I would like you to identify two ways that climate will impact on plants and animals in the taiga.

Is it A, the cold winters make it difficult for plants to grow.

B, the warm summers allow for limited plant growth.

C, the mild climate encourages animals to thrive year-round.

D, the cold temperatures mean animals will hibernate in winter.

Pause here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is A, the cold winters make it difficult for plants to grow, and D, the cold temperatures mean animals will hibernate in winter.

Excellent work on this.

True or false? In the taiga, plants have no impact on the abiotic factors.

Pause the video here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, this statement is false.

I would like you to explain why.

Pause here and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic, the reason why the statement is false is because, in the taiga, plants significantly influence the abiotic factors.

The trees play a crucial role in storing carbon and helping to regulate global temperatures.

Needles that fall from coniferous trees create acidic soil which limits plant growth.

Well done on this task, you've done brilliantly.

I would now like you to answer this question.

How do abiotic factors in the taiga biome affect the biotic factors? Sam said, "The taiga is really cold.

It sometimes drops to -40.

This will make it really challenging for many animals and plants found in the taiga." Alex said, "When abiotic and biotic factors affect each other, this makes them interdependent." Pause the video here whilst to attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Well done, let's check our answers.

Your answer might have included some of the following points.

In the taiga biome, the cold climates with long winters and short summers make conditions very challenging for plant growth.

The soil is nutrient-poor and acidic, which limits the types of plants that can survive.

Mainly coniferous trees like pine and spruce, which are highly specialised.

In the taiga, the cold temperatures and limited food in winter force animals to hibernate or migrate.

Species like the caribou and snowy owls, migrate to find food, while bears and ground squirrels hibernate to conserve energy.

Other animals have specialised adaptations to survive taiga winters.

Well done on this task, you've done excellently.

We've now come to the end of our learning in biotic and abiotic characteristics of the taiga biome.

You've done fantastically.

Before we end this lesson, let's summarise everything that we've learned in today's lesson.

The taiga is found in the northern hemisphere, stretching across regions like Canada, Russia, and Scandinavia.

It has a cold climate with long, harsh winters and short, mild summers.

The soil in the taiga is nutrient-poor and acidic, which makes it difficult for many plants to grow.

Additionally, much of the land is covered by permafrost, meaning the ground remains frozen much of the year, limiting plant root growth and water absorption.

Precipitation in the taiga is low, usually between 300 and 900 millimetres per year, and most of it falls as snow.

During the winter, temperatures can drop to -40 degrees, creating extremely cold conditions that challenges both plants and animals.

In contrast, summer temperatures can reach around 15 degrees, but the growing season is very short.

The taiga is dominated by coniferous trees such as pines and spruces.

These trees are especially adapted to survive in the cold and nutrient-poor conditions.

The animals that live here like bears, wolves, and moose, are well suited to the cold, with their thick fur or special behaviours like hibernation, or migration, to survive their harsh winters.

The taiga also has low biodiversity compared to other biomes, partly due to its extremely cold climate and limited resources.

The harsh conditions mean that only certain plants and animals can survive, and those that do, must have special adaptations to cope with the cold, poor soil and short growing seasons.

The biotic, living, and abiotic, non-living factors of the taiga, are interdependent, meaning they rely on each other to sustain life.

For example, the cold climate and poor soil limit plant growth, which in turn affects the animals that rely on those plants for food.

Trees like pine store carbon, and they help regulate global temperatures, while fallen needles create acidic soil, further limiting plant growth.

These connections create a delicate balance, where the survival of one factor directly influences the others in the ecosystem.

Excellent work in today's lesson, you've done brilliantly.

I look forward to learning with you again very soon.