Unfair Energy Pyramid Angers Hawks

This energy pyramid shows how the sparrowhawk is having to work harder for the energy it needs than a blackbird, snail, and earthworm, even though they eat a fraction of the amount. The energy passed on from organism to organism while running the course of the food chain (pictured below) decreases as the pyramid goes up.

• Grass, seeds, and acorns are the producers.
• The rabbit and the mouse are the primary consumers.
• The fox and the owl are the secondary consumers.
  

Taiga in Crisis!

Disease is being spread like a plague through insects. With climate change causing the taiga's weather to be warmer, the insects have been reproducing more frequently. The life cycle of these insects will more than likely affect the nesting of birds. With a growing number of insects, it will be easier for insects to spread disease.

However, disease is not the only thing that climate change is affecting. The taiga will have lower water levels and less permafrost. With less permafrost the norther taiga ecosystems will be directly affected and endangered. Fires will be more frequent with higher temperatures, and the caribous' habitat will be reduced significantly therefore reducing their population.

Lifestyle

Some animals have been making adjustments in their way of life in order to adapt to life in the Taiga. For example, bears deal with the cold weather by hibernating through the worst of the winter. Many birds have developed another layer feathers in order to handle the colder temperature. The ermine specifically has made the adaption to change his coat to white in the winter and to brown in the summer in order to avoid predators.

However, plants are also making adaptations necessary for survival in the Taiga. For example, the evergreen trees do not loose their needles therefore making it easier to produce energy in colder temperatures. They also have chemicals in their needles that repel animals that would normally eat the needles. Also, evergreens have a cone-like structure which enables the snow to slide of more easily making it easier for the needles to get sunlight.

Decomposers Accused of Removing a Body From a Crime Scene

Three decomposers are being accused of removing the body of a red fox from the scene of death. It is not believed that the decomposers were responsible for the death of the fox. A soil bacteria nematode, a sow bug, and a honey fungus are all being accused.

Local Weather

This Summer:
A high of 70 with a high chance of rain.

This Winter:
A high of 30 with a low around 65 below zero. Snowfall is likely.





Average annual rainfall: 12-33 inches

Our Region

Get to Know the Residents of the Taiga

The taiga is home to a vast variety of organisms. Here are some of the animals that call the Taiga "home."


Bald Eagle (carnivore)
Ermine (carnivore)
Red Fox (carnivore)
American Black Bear (omnivore)
Bobcat (carnivore)
Canadian Lynx (carnivore)
Grey Wolf (carnivore)
Grizzly Bear (omnivore)
Long Eared Owl (carnivore)
Moose (herbivore)
River Otter (omnivore)
Snowshoe Rabbit (herbivore)
Wolverine (carnivore)
Bohemian Waxwing (omnivore)
Eurasian Beaver (herbivore)





the plants of the taiga include:

Jack Pine

Balsam Fir

Evergreen

White Poplar

Black Spruce

Siberian Spruce

Eastern Red Cedar

Douglas-fir

Paper Birch

White Fir

White Spruce

Coniferous

Deciduous Larch

Evergreen Spruce

and Sphagnum Moss

Thank You for the Generous Donations Made to Our News Station

"Taiga". 12-1-2008 .

Meyers-Hyde, Elizabeth B.. "Taiga". 12-4-2008 .

SLW, "Taiga or Boreal Forest". 12-4-2008 .

Mary Ciucci, Colleen McCartney, and Amy Warren, "Biome Basics". University of Richmond. 12-4-2008 .

"Wikianswers". 12-7-2008 .

We would like to thank all of those sites for their generous donations.