Much of Alaska's interior is covered
by an ecoregion known as the boreal forest (pictured above). The Alaskan boreal forest consists
of relatively few plant species, primarily conifers such as white and black spruce and deciduous
trees such as birch, aspen, and balsam poplar. Boreal forests are also located in other areas
around the northern hemisphere in Russia, Scandinavia, and Canada. Approximately one third of the
world's forest land area is boreal forest which provides habitat for numerous species of animals
including owls, ravens, eagles, bear, lynx, wolves, moose, caribou, and beaver. The boreal forest
acts as a storehouse for carbon and may influence the global climate. Although the precise role
the boreal forest plays in carbon cycling and the global climate is not completely understood,
ongoing and future research should provide insights into how the ecosystem operates. |
