The Boreal Forest Ecosystem

The boreal biome is the largest of all terrestrial biomes, between the temperate and tundra zones. The climate is generally continental with short summers and cold winters, and permafrost can occur in the northern parts of this zone. Average precipitation tends to be low but water is seldom limiting. True boreal forest is far less species rich than temperate forest, and is dominated by coniferous trees such as spruces, firs, pines, and larches, whiles hardwoods, such as alders, poplars, birches, and willows, usually occur in dwarf form. Soils underlying conifers tend to be highly podzolized through acid leaching.