The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Taiga is a Russian word used to describe the subarctic evergreen forest of Siberia and other similar forest regions around the world. Characterized by long, cold winters and short, wet summers, this biome (broad biological community) is generally species-poor and low in productivity. Trees only a few inches in diameter may be many decades old. Damage caused by forestry, mining, road-building, and other activities can take many years to heal. Conifers (cone-bearing evergreens such as pine, spruce, and fir) and a few deciduous species such as aspen, willow, birch, and alder are the main tree species in this community. The forest floor often is covered by mosses and other species adapted to short growing seasons, wet soil, and acidic conditions. Slow decomposition rates and lack of soil organisms lead to the formation of dense layers of peat in the extensive wetlands spread through the taiga. At its northern edge, the taiga forms a ragged, irregular border with the treeless arctic tundra. The sparsely scattered trees in this transition zone often are little more than a few feet tall and can be bent and tilted in weird patterns (sometimes called a drunken forest) where underlying permafrost prevents tree roots from gaining a firm hold in the ground. Among the predominant animal species of the taiga are woodland caribou, moose, bears, beaver, lynx, martin, and wolves. Swarms of biting insects during the summer can make the taiga a miserable place for both humans and other warm-blooded animals. Although it doesn't contain the highest amount of biomass, the taiga covers a larger area than any other forest type in the world.