Coniferous Forests

Coniferous forests are found in colder places. They are found in continents in the Northern Hemisphere and at high altitudes such as those you might experience while climbing mountains. The map below shows the three continents where coniferous forest can typically be found.

Coniferous forests are composed primarily of conifer trees (or evergreens). Conifers are often referred to as evergreens because they have needle-like leaves that do not fall off the tree in autumn. The needle-like leaves of the conifer tree are important in helping the tree to preserve water. Another feature of conifer trees are their cones.

Coniferous forests, like all forests, sustain life. They provide habitat for many different animals. You will find small animals such as insects, shrews, squirrels, woodpeckers and nuthatches in these forests. You might also find larger animals such as hawks, owls, wolves and moose. What you are not likely to find are cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles like frogs and lizards. These forests are too cold and shady for them.

Though we may not like them, mosquitos and other insects provide a valuable

source of food for other animals.

Smaller birds like woodpeckers and nuthatches make their nests in trees and

also hunt for insects under the bark of trees.

Small mammals like squirrels, shrews and voles find shelter in coniferous

forests. While voles and shrews prefer to live underground, squirrels use trees

for nesting. The seeds inside the cones of trees provide a food source rich in

fats and nutrients that are great for squirrels as they fatten up for winter.

Luckily for owls, hawks and other birds of prey, coniferous forests provide

many different animals they can hunt for food. These hunters of small

mammals keep the rodent and small mammal population under control as

they dine.

Though you won't find them in every coniferous forest because of the large

range of space wolves need in order to survive, they can be found in these

types of habitats. Wolves feed off of smaller mammals as well as larger

mammals such as deer.

Photo credits:

nuthatch by qmnonic at: http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=2904795&searchId=1789d6fea8888b4e52f2643fcbd2c6ff&npos=43

mosquito by edans at: http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=3289524&searchId=f0fee5650c92a2d28715070d15f88eb8&npos=34

owl by suneko at: http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=4160571&searchId=50f8b6c98b0f9a271a562632405ae63d&npos=220

squirrel by peasap at: http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=2321985&searchId=eac074b0503b45740d49b18eb659bcfc&npos=20

wolf by loup.org at http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=3806670&searchId=bf4397d8b4dc061e1b6d191a352e9134&npos=31