Conifer Forests

Front 1

composition

Back 1

pine, spruce, fir

Front 2

fire adaptation

Back 2

-subjected to periodic fires and often survive, and in some cases "Depend," on periodic fires
-examples of this are the Jack Pine forests of the midwest and eastern us, the boreal forest of Canada, Suberia, and Scandanavia, and the long-leaf pine forests of the southeastern us, and the ponderosa pine forests of the Western us.

Front 3

jack pine forests

Back 3

-scrubby pine forests generally composed of loosely scattered pine trees and with grasses, herbs, and shrubs.

Front 4

jack pine forest fires

Back 4

-fires tend to burn in patches and be heterogenous.
-jack pines are completely killed by fire, but have serotinous cones that remain closed and on the tree until there is a fire
-the fire melts the resin that binds the scales, allowing them to peel back and release winged seeds
-fires also release nutrients and increase the water-holding capacity of the soil (due to increase in organic matter)
-fire stimulates collection of plant species to grow

Front 5

fire patterns

Back 5

-fires generally contained when they reach lower elevations with wetter soils and more vegetation.