The Arctic The Arctic TundraTundra

By: Natalie By: Natalie JiménezJiménez

Period1Period1

9/10/20119/10/2011

AP Environmental Biome ProjectAP Environmental Biome Project

Mrs. YeutterMrs. Yeutter

TemperatureTemperature► Highs: are always reached during the Highs: are always reached during the

summer. It ranges from 37 to 60 degrees summer. It ranges from 37 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For the most part, however, Fahrenheit. For the most part, however, the temperature is usually under 50 the temperature is usually under 50 degrees.degrees.

► Lows: are always reached in the winter Lows: are always reached in the winter time. The average is -20 to -30 degrees time. The average is -20 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit. The northernmost areas of the Fahrenheit. The northernmost areas of the tundra, have been known to reach tundra, have been known to reach temperatures as low as -90 degrees temperatures as low as -90 degrees Fahrenheit.Fahrenheit.

► Average: 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit Average: 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit

PrecipitationPrecipitation

►Precipitation is desert-like because it Precipitation is desert-like because it receives little rain.receives little rain.

►Average: about 6-10 inches (15-25 Average: about 6-10 inches (15-25 centimeters) of rain AND snow per year. centimeters) of rain AND snow per year.

►Most of the rain is received during the Most of the rain is received during the summer months.summer months. The growing season is all through the The growing season is all through the

summer, which only last about 50-60 days. summer, which only last about 50-60 days.

The tundra is located…..The tundra is located…..

►At 55 to 70 north degrees latitude.At 55 to 70 north degrees latitude.►Mostly in the Arctic circle.Mostly in the Arctic circle.

Another MapAnother Map

Where is the tundra found?Where is the tundra found?

► Covers about 20% of the Earth’s land surfaceCovers about 20% of the Earth’s land surface North America (Alaska, Canada, Iceland, and other North America (Alaska, Canada, Iceland, and other

northern countries), Russia, and parts of Northern northern countries), Russia, and parts of Northern Europe. Europe.

► Located mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, Located mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, though there are a few tundra-like landscapes though there are a few tundra-like landscapes in the South Pole in the South Pole

► For the most part, the tundra is a flat, expanse For the most part, the tundra is a flat, expanse of land yet there are a few mountain ranges.of land yet there are a few mountain ranges.

The tundra on the world mapThe tundra on the world map

Soil Conditions….Soil Conditions….

• Are not ideal– soil is low in nutrients and minerals, except in

the rare areas where animal droppings are abundant.

• The tundra’s topsoil, called permafrost, is made up of permanently frozen soil, fine gravel, and dead plant material. – it can extend 450 meters (1478 feet) below

the surface

Soil Conditions (cont’d)Soil Conditions (cont’d)

• Northern areas of the tundra remain frozen year.– but some of the southern region’s permafrost

melts a little during the summertime. • creates bogs that teem with life because of the

warmer conditions and melted ice

ClimateClimate

Prevailing weather conditions of the Prevailing weather conditions of the tundra consist of COLD temperatures tundra consist of COLD temperatures and bitter winds that can reach up to 40 and bitter winds that can reach up to 40 mph.mph.

Winter time brings total darkness for Winter time brings total darkness for days at a time, the sun rarely shinesdays at a time, the sun rarely shines During this season, temperatures can reach During this season, temperatures can reach

-90 degrees Fahrenheit. -90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Climate Climate (cont’d)(cont’d)

Summer in the tundra is only about Summer in the tundra is only about 6-9 weeks long. 6-9 weeks long. temperatures can reach 45 degrees temperatures can reach 45 degrees

FahrenheitFahrenheit sun rarely sets; it is shining for 24 hours sun rarely sets; it is shining for 24 hours

a day during the summertime a day during the summertime This phenomenon caused the tundra to be This phenomenon caused the tundra to be

called “land of the midnight sun” called “land of the midnight sun”

Types of plants and special Types of plants and special adaptationsadaptations

► The tundra has the The tundra has the lowest biodiversity lowest biodiversity of all the biomes of all the biomes only has about 1700 only has about 1700

different types of different types of plants plants

► Characteristics:Characteristics: root systems of the root systems of the

tundra plants aren’t tundra plants aren’t very deep; they are very deep; they are shallow and extensive shallow and extensive to maximize the to maximize the absorption of the little absorption of the little water it receives. water it receives.

Plants (cont’d)Plants (cont’d)

must be adapted to must be adapted to high wind speeds, or high wind speeds, or else they will be else they will be pulled up pulled up

►tundra plants tundra plants have are short have are short height and they height and they are often grouped are often grouped together, or grow together, or grow into mats to help into mats to help stand against the stand against the windwind

must be accustomed must be accustomed to the short growing to the short growing seasons, low light seasons, low light intensity, and intensity, and freezing freezing temperatures.temperatures.

► Types of plantsTypes of plants mosses, lichens, mosses, lichens,

grasses, and shrubs, grasses, and shrubs, all of which are all of which are adapted to the adapted to the environment environment

The types of animals their The types of animals their physical/ behavioral adaptationsphysical/ behavioral adaptations► The tundra has the The tundra has the

lowest biodiversity lowest biodiversity of all the biomesof all the biomes Only has about 48 Only has about 48

different species of different species of land animalsland animals

► Behavioral Behavioral AdaptationsAdaptations many animals must many animals must

quickly breed raise quickly breed raise their offspring in the their offspring in the summer to take summer to take advantage of the advantage of the warmer temperatures warmer temperatures and increased food and increased food supplysupply

Animals (cont’d)Animals (cont’d)► Physical Physical

AdaptationsAdaptations Animals have are Animals have are

thick fur or extra fat thick fur or extra fat for better heat for better heat retention/absorption retention/absorption

Others hibernate in Others hibernate in the winter because the winter because of the lack of food of the lack of food

Some animals (like Some animals (like birds and caribou) birds and caribou) migrate to other migrate to other regions to escape regions to escape the cold winter the cold winter temperatures. temperatures.

Endangered Plant SpeciesEndangered Plant Species

►The tundra has a relatively short list of The tundra has a relatively short list of endangered or threatened species due endangered or threatened species due to little human impact (possibly from to little human impact (possibly from the extreme temperature) and the extreme temperature) and geographic isolation. geographic isolation. Some include the Aleutian Shield Fern, the Some include the Aleutian Shield Fern, the

Aleutian Wormwood, the Sessile-Leaved Aleutian Wormwood, the Sessile-Leaved Scurvy-Grass, and the Bering Sea Scurvy-Grass, and the Bering Sea DouglasiaDouglasia

Endangered Plant Species Endangered Plant Species (cont’d)(cont’d)

► Aleutian Shield FernAleutian Shield Fern only plant species only plant species

that is considered to that is considered to be critically be critically endangeredendangered

no clear reasons for no clear reasons for its increasing rate of its increasing rate of disappearance disappearance

►so it is believed so it is believed that its rarity is that its rarity is due to natural due to natural processes processes

Potential threats Potential threats ►overgrazing and overgrazing and

trampling trampling

Endangered Plant Species Endangered Plant Species (cont’d)(cont’d)

►Bering Sea DouglasiaBering Sea Douglasia It is also uncertain why the plant It is also uncertain why the plant

species is on the decline.species is on the decline.► though it seems that biological factors though it seems that biological factors

are also to blame are also to blame ►couldn’t find any pictures of itcouldn’t find any pictures of it

Endangered Endangered Animal SpeciesAnimal Species

► Arctic Fox populations are relatively safe in Arctic Fox populations are relatively safe in North America,but there is a species of North America,but there is a species of Russian Arctic Fox that is dwindling. Russian Arctic Fox that is dwindling.

► Potential reasons for population declinePotential reasons for population decline infestation of mange, a parasite spread by infestation of mange, a parasite spread by

nearby domesticated dogs. nearby domesticated dogs. global warming that is increasing the average global warming that is increasing the average

temperature of the tundra.temperature of the tundra.►increase in temperature is making the area increase in temperature is making the area

more hospitable for the red fox, a bigger more hospitable for the red fox, a bigger species that is invading the Russian Arctic Fox species that is invading the Russian Arctic Fox

Endangered Animal Species Endangered Animal Species (cont’d)(cont’d)

► A second A second endangered species endangered species are the caribou. are the caribou.

►Their habitats Their habitats and migratory and migratory routes are being routes are being destroyed by destroyed by road building, oil road building, oil pipelines, mining, pipelines, mining, and loss of food and loss of food sources.sources.

Interesting Facts

The origin of the word “tundra” comes from the Finnish word “tunturia” which means “barren land ” or “treeless plain”

The sweeping, bitter winds of the tundra are being harnessed for wind power.

Interesting Fact (cont’d)

The sweeping, bitter winds of the tundra are being harnessed for wind power.

The small coastal town of Kotzebue is the first Alaskan town to use arctic wind power.The wind powers about 200 homes, 6% of the populationIt is designed to withstand the strong winds and extreme temperatures.Its success in lowering emissions and electric bill costs have motivated the community to extend its use.

BibliographyBibliography Webites used:Webites used:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/tundra.htmltundra.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/

environment/habitats/tundra-threats.htmlenvironment/habitats/tundra-threats.html http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/tundra4/tundra4c.htmlhttp://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/tundra4/tundra4c.html http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/

tundra_climate_page.htmtundra_climate_page.htm http://www.aidea.org/aea/Reports%20andhttp://www.aidea.org/aea/Reports%20and

%20Presentations/Wind-Turbine-Provides_Electricity-for-%20Presentations/Wind-Turbine-Provides_Electricity-for-Arctic-Town_CADDET-Kotzebue-Article.pdfArctic-Town_CADDET-Kotzebue-Article.pdf

  http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/index1.htmlhttp://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/index1.html http://www.ehow.com/list_7497509_endangered-plants-http://www.ehow.com/list_7497509_endangered-plants-

tundra.htmltundra.html http://www.animalport.com/endangered-animals/http://www.animalport.com/endangered-animals/

tundra.htmltundra.html