Difference between mixed and coniferous forests.

As the name implies, a coniferous forest is a forest where coniferous trees grow - spruce, pine, fir and others. And in a mixed forest, coniferous and deciduous species are adjacent to each other. What is the difference between mixed forests and conifers, except for the species of trees growing there? There are quite a few differences: this is the composition of the soil, and the climate of the area, and the territory of distribution. About everything - just below.

Where does which forest grows

Our coniferous forest is strong associated with the north or Siberia. And this is true: in the taiga mainly conifers grow, preferring a predominantly cool climate. Taiga, stretching as a continuous massif almost throughout the north of Eurasia and North America, in some places even goes beyond the Arctic Circle. But the taiga is not homogeneous, experts distinguish between light coniferous and dark coniferous species. Light conifers include common pine and larch, and dark conifers - spruce, cedar pine and fir.

The difference between mixed forests and conifers is that the former prefer a generally warmer climate. The strip of such forests occupies an intermediate position between coniferous and deciduous forests. Although individual tracts of spruce or pine trees can be found to the south of mixed forests, they are islands of coniferous trees among deciduous forests or even among steppes. Often they are relics of past eras, because the area of ​​their distribution during the Ice Age was much wider. Coniferous forests also grow in the tropics, but nowhere do they form more or less large tracts comparable in size to the taiga, and the types of trees there have little in common with those we are used to.

The composition of mixed forests differs from region to region. For example, in the mixed forests of Europe, conifers (spruce, pine) are diluted with oak, maple, ash, elm and linden. To the east of the Ural Mountains from conifers, in addition to spruce and pine, fir and larch are often found. And among deciduous trees, birch is widely represented, as well as regional species of oak, linden, ash and endemic shrubs.

Comparison

The soil of the taiga forest is called podzolic, since it is mostly ash-colored. There is little humus in the upper layer of such soil, because it is easily washed out by melt water. The fact is that under the dense branching branches of trees, dead plant parts, decomposing, form organic acids that easily dissolve in water. Such soil is poor in nutrients, and organic acids make it acidic.

The soil of mixed forests is much more fertile. Due to the abundance of grass in a warmer climate, the podzolic layer is enriched with valuable humus - the products of decay of plant residues. Sod-podzolic and sod-gley soils are distinguished depending on the area's moisture content. In Russia, these varieties are extremely widespread.

But the fauna of coniferous and mixed forests differs little: bears, wolves, foxes, hares, wild boars, basically the same species of birds or rodents. Of the large mammals, one can perhaps note the red deer characteristic of the taiga - red deer and red deer. Most of the representatives of the fauna can live quite comfortably both there and there; the differences are rather manifested only in the number of animals. But this is not due to different living conditions, but to the human factor. Since the taiga is less developed by humans than the warmer area of ​​mixed forests, the animals among the trees and pines feel more at ease.

Table

The table below summarizes the difference between mixed and coniferous forests.

Coniferous forests Mixed forests
Distribution areaBasically - the northern part of Eurasia and North America from the Arctic Circle to the strip of deciduous forests; some massifs can also occur to the southAn intermediate position between the taiga and the strip of deciduous forests
Typical soilsPodzolic, poor in nutrientsSod-podzolic (dry areas) and sod-gley (wet areas). Richer in nutrients than podzolic
What trees growSpruce, pine, fir, larchConifers are adjacent to deciduous - oak, linden, ash, birch and others
Animal worldThere is little difference
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