coniferous forest

(ecology) An area of wooded land predominated by conifers.

This occurs naturally between 55° and 66° N where winters are long and very cold, summers are short and warm, and precipitation, around 600 mm per annum, falls mainly as snow. Pure stands are common and species are relatively few. Trees are evergreen and leaves are needle-shaped, restricting surface area and preventing loss of water by transpiration. Undergrowth is sparse. Animal species are dominated by insects, and seed-eating rodents such as mice and squirrels abound. Larger animals include deer, bear, wolves, foxes, and medium-sized cats.