The big story in the taiga is adaptation to winter cold and snow. As seen in the animals topic, the Snowshoe Hare with its large paws (for running over the snow) and white fur (to blend in) is well adapted for life in the snow. Other animals may burrow beneath the snow and forage for their food in tunnels on and in the forest floor; they are insulated from the worst cold of winter by the snow. Still others will hibernate throughout the winter. The cold, however, does take its toll; compared to temperate forests there are fewer species of plants and animals, and among the animals the cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles are noticeably reduced. Bird species mostly deal with the cold by migrating south during the cold winter and returning in the spring. During the brief summer, the very long days that exist at high latitudes means a lot of photosynthesis can take place, and this profusion of plant growth is accompanied by a burst of insect activity. Birds migrating to the taiga in summer are able to take advantage of the new growth and insect abundance - not to mention the reduced competition in the vast forests - and raise their young.
One other aspect of the boreal forest with regard to plants should be mentioned, however. The cold, as well as the acid conditions produced by the fallen conifer needles, reduces the rate of decomposition on the forest floor. This in turn reduces the availability of nutrients in the soils, and competition for nutrients by plants growing in the boreal forest may be stiff. In addition, many of the soils are wet and bog-like during the brief summer when the snow finally melts. In many places, the conditions for plants are more reminiscent of a bog. Carnivory, parasitism, use of mycorrhizae - all of these are just a few of the tricks that are used by boreal forest plants.
One other aspect of the boreal forest with regard to plants should be mentioned, however. The cold, as well as the acid conditions produced by the fallen conifer needles, reduces the rate of decomposition on the forest floor. This in turn reduces the availability of nutrients in the soils, and competition for nutrients by plants growing in the boreal forest may be stiff. In addition, many of the soils are wet and bog-like during the brief summer when the snow finally melts. In many places, the conditions for plants are more reminiscent of a bog. Carnivory, parasitism, use of mycorrhizae - all of these are just a few of the tricks that are used by boreal forest plants.