Major Threats and Conservation Ideas

Fossil fuels, air pollution, hunting; these are all major threats to this biome.  But the biggest threat to the Northwestern Coniferous Forest would have to be logging.  Forests are being cleared for new ski slopes, roads, housing, etc.  Even though a new ski resort or road can be a good thing, logging increases the speed of soil eroision, and destroys the wildlife's habitats. Every 12.9 seconds, an acre of forest destroyed in Canada.  With a statistic like that, it seems impossible to think that we can help at all.  However, there is something that you can do.  If you want to prevent logging, vote candidates into office that are against it.  We can even decrease our use of fossil fuels.  If you feel cold, put on a sweater or a jacket as oppose to turning up the thermostat.  To prevent air pollution, take public transportation or ride your bike places so one less car isn't polluting the air.  To prevent deforestation for paper products, recycle!  Even though you are just one person you do have the power to make a difference.

Abiotic Factors

If you aren't familiar with  abiotic factors, they are non-living characteristics that affect a biome.  The Pacific Ocean provides the Northwestern Coniferous Forest with abiotic factors such as mild temperatures and lots of rainfall.  The majority of precipitation occurs in the spring, winter, and fall.  The summer however recieves the least amount of rainfall and is usually very dry.  This biome is very rocky and because of that, plus the abundant rainfall, this forest has very acidic soil.  When rainfall occurs, it dissolves the sediment, or rock, under the soil, making the soil very acidic.

 

Dominant Plant and Animal Life

The forest consists of many different conifers such as Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and redwood. (Trees are producers because they produce their own food from photosynthesis) Moss, also a producer, covers most trees.  Other producers such as ferns, mushrooms, and toadstools also live in this biome.  The Northwestern Coniferous Forest is home to a variety of consumers as well.  Carnivores like bears, wolves, weasel, bobcats, and owls live in this biome.  Herbivores such as elk, deer, squirrels, and beavers inhabit this forest as well.

 

 

 

Climate

The majority of the Northwestern Coniferous Forest is found in the temperate climate zone.  Because of this biome's climate zone, abundant amounts of rainfall, and lush vegetation, this biome is also known as a temperate rainforest.  Temperatures can get very cold in the winter, and fairly warm in the summer. Average yearly temperatures range from 14° F, to 60°F.  Moist oxygen coming from the Pacific ocean provides large amounts of rainfall to the Northwestern Coniferous Forest.  The majority of this biome's precipitation comes in the spring, fall, and winter.  Yearly, this biome receives up to 150 millimeters of precipitation.

Introduction

Here in Western Washington, we live in the biome known as The Northwestern Coniferous Forest. This biome is found in the Pacific Northwest and parts of Canada.  It extends from northern California all the way to Alaska.  This forest is home to the coniferous trees we see everyday!  The Northwestern Coniferous Forest is full of lush vegetation and many different species of wild life.  This biome is a wonderful display of God's creation.