Taiga

These cool, moist forests occur from 50° N to 65° N. The short summer brings rain, and most of the plants are low-growing conifers like spruce, fir, larch, and pine, with an understory dominated by shrubs in the blueberry and rose families. Mosses commonly form an extensive and soggy groundcover. The soils are deep with accumulated organic matter because the low temperatures result in slow decomposition, but they are also acidic and poor in nutrients, helping to explain the limited stature of most plants. Birds, insects, and other invertebrate animals are more abundant and diverse than those of tundra biomes, but mammals are the most conspicuous consumers. Grazers include elk, moose, caribou, porcupines, hares, and a diversity of rodents. Bears, lynx, wolverines, weasels, mink, wolves, and foxes are well-known predators.