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Year 10
Edexcel B

Nutrient cycling and biodiversity in the taiga biome

I can understand that, compared to tropical rainforests, the taiga has low productivity, a lower rate of nutrient cycling and supports lower levels of biodiversity.

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel B

Nutrient cycling and biodiversity in the taiga biome

I can understand that, compared to tropical rainforests, the taiga has low productivity, a lower rate of nutrient cycling and supports lower levels of biodiversity.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The taiga has a lower rate of productivity than tropical rainforests and less active nutrient cycling.
  2. The taiga support much lower levels of biodiversity than tropical rainforests.

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

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.


To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: Nutrient cycling and biodiversity in the taiga biome, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

GIS maps taiga nutrient cycles by tracking soil quality, decomposition rates, and plant growth. It shows how slow decay due to cold limits nutrients, affecting tree growth.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Where is the taiga biome mainly found?
Near the equator
In tropical regions
Correct answer: In the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere
In coastal areas
Q2.
What type of trees dominate the taiga biome?
Deciduous trees
Correct answer: Evergreen coniferous trees
Palm trees
Mangroves
Q3.
What is the climate like in the taiga?
Hot and dry
Correct answer: Cold winters, mild summers
Warm all year
Very wet with heavy rainfall
Q4.
How do trees in the taiga adapt to cold conditions?
They grow wide, flat leaves
They shed their leaves in winter
Correct answer: They have needle-like leaves and thick bark
They grow quickly all year round
Q5.
What kind of animals live in the taiga?
Camels and lizards
Jaguars and parrots
Correct answer: Bears, wolves and moose
Kangaroos and koalas
Q6.
Why is deforestation a major threat to the taiga?
It makes the soil more fertile
Correct answer: It causes habitat loss for wildlife
It helps trees grow faster
It increases rainfall

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords with their definitions.
Correct Answer:Biodiversity,a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem
tick

a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem

Correct Answer:Nutrients,chemical substances found in all biotic features which aid survival
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chemical substances found in all biotic features which aid survival

Correct Answer:Interdependent,when two or more biotic features depend on each other to survive
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when two or more biotic features depend on each other to survive

Q2.
The taiga has a __________ biodiversity compared to the tropical rainforest.
Correct answer: low
high
similar
Q3.
The taiga has a low biodiversity for several reasons:
Correct Answer:Cold climate,long, freezing winters make it difficult for many species to survive
tick

long, freezing winters make it difficult for many species to survive

Correct Answer:Short growing season,species have 3-5 months to grow and reproduce before winter returns
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species have 3-5 months to grow and reproduce before winter returns

Correct Answer:Poor soil quality,the soil lacks nutrients, making it hard for plants to grow
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the soil lacks nutrients, making it hard for plants to grow

Correct Answer:Limited food supply,fewer plants = less food for herbivores, which limits predators
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fewer plants = less food for herbivores, which limits predators

Q4.
The nutrient cycle in the taiga is __________ due to cold temperatures and acidic soil. Most nutrients come from decomposing needles and limited organic matter.
Correct answer: slow
fast
efficient