Final answer:
The boreal forest, also known as taiga, is the subarctic coniferous-forest found just south of the tundra region, characterized by cold, dry winters, short summers, low evaporation, and evergreen coniferous trees.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Boreal Forests: A Subarctic Biome
The subarctic coniferous-forests that are found just south of the tundra region are known as the boreal forests, or taiga. These expansive forests extend across most of Canada, Alaska, Russia, and northern Europe. The boreal forest is characterized by cold, dry winters and short, cool, wet summers. With annual precipitation ranging from 40 cm to 100 cm (15.7–39 in), predominantly in the form of snow, this biome hosts low lying plants and predominantly conifer trees like pines, spruce, and fir, adapted to the semi-arid subarctic climate. The soil quality in this region is poor, however, due to cool temperatures, little evaporation occurs.
One of the crucial advantages of evergreen coniferous trees in such an environment is their ability to photosynthesize earlier in the spring than deciduous trees. This early growth is due to their needle-shaped leaves which require less energy to warm than broad leaves, allowing them to thrive despite the short growing season and the limitations of the nutrient-poor soil.