TUNDRA TUNDRA BIOMEBIOME

ByBy

Jenny AriasJenny Arias

When you hear the word When you hear the word tundra what is the first thing tundra what is the first thing

you think of…?you think of…? A warm place..?A warm place..? A forest…?A forest…? Dessert…?Dessert…?

Quick facts about TundraQuick facts about Tundra

♥ Tundra have 9 months of temperatures below Tundra have 9 months of temperatures below freezing.freezing.

♥ Tundra is the coldest of all biomes.Tundra is the coldest of all biomes.♥ This biome covers about 1/5 of the land in Earth.This biome covers about 1/5 of the land in Earth.♥ Artic tundra is the youngest of all biomes formed Artic tundra is the youngest of all biomes formed

10,000 years ago.10,000 years ago.♥ Short season of growth and reproduction.Short season of growth and reproduction.♥ Low biotic diversity.Low biotic diversity.♥ Plants in tundra are protected by the snow Plants in tundra are protected by the snow

during winter.during winter.

ConditionsConditions→Tundra is found just Tundra is found just

below the ice caps of below the ice caps of the artic.the artic.

→Temperature are Temperature are extremely cold but, extremely cold but, can get warm during can get warm during the summer.the summer.

→Tundra winters are Tundra winters are long, dark, and cold.long, dark, and cold.

→Temperature can Temperature can easy reach to 0 easy reach to 0 degrees for 6 to 10 degrees for 6 to 10 months.months.

→Some of the most Some of the most common plants are common plants are mosses, sedges and mosses, sedges and lichens.lichens.

→Annual precipitation is Annual precipitation is very low.very low.

ClimateClimateTundra is known to be located near the artic Tundra is known to be located near the artic circle therefore, tundra climate is very cold circle therefore, tundra climate is very cold and dry. The temperature can easily range and dry. The temperature can easily range from -40 degrees fahrenheit to -93, depending from -40 degrees fahrenheit to -93, depending on the area. However in the summer on the area. However in the summer temperature can go up to 45 degree temperature can go up to 45 degree fahrenheit. The warmest summers happens fahrenheit. The warmest summers happens in Siberia, Alaska and Canada.in Siberia, Alaska and Canada.Tundra is one of the driest places in earth with Tundra is one of the driest places in earth with a total of 6 to 10 inches of rain per year a total of 6 to 10 inches of rain per year (including melted snow)(including melted snow)

Some more weather Some more weather stuff..stuff..

In spite of the low rainfall this biome is In spite of the low rainfall this biome is known to have very wet underfoot known to have very wet underfoot because the moisture evaporates slowly.because the moisture evaporates slowly.As a result of low temperatures As a result of low temperatures precipitation is light. Usually 10 inches a precipitation is light. Usually 10 inches a year however, eastern and western in year however, eastern and western in North America have almost double the North America have almost double the amount because of the influence of the amount because of the influence of the ocean.ocean.

LocationLocationTundra is located at Tundra is located at the top of the world, the top of the world, near the arctic circle.near the arctic circle.

Tundra is found in the Tundra is found in the following places…following places…

SiberiaSiberia

RussiaRussia

AsiaAsia

CanadaCanada

AlaskaAlaska

PlantsPlantsTundra is not a suitable place for Tundra is not a suitable place for plants to grow due to the extremely plants to grow due to the extremely cold temperatures that permanently cold temperatures that permanently freeze the soil therefore, most of freeze the soil therefore, most of tundra plants are low shrubs. The tundra plants are low shrubs. The average tree is less than a knee high. average tree is less than a knee high. Some of the most common types of Some of the most common types of plants are…plants are…

Types of plantsTypes of plants♣ Artic willowArtic willow– – Found in North American tundra. This is a Found in North American tundra. This is a

treeless plain with uneven ground usually found in dry, treeless plain with uneven ground usually found in dry, open places.open places.

♣ BearberryBearberry– Also known as Foxberry. Is a low growing – Also known as Foxberry. Is a low growing ever green, covered in a thick bark and fine silky hairs.ever green, covered in a thick bark and fine silky hairs.

♣ Caribou mossCaribou moss– This plant is found on the ground and – This plant is found on the ground and rocks. It looks like foamy gray, green spongy mass and rocks. It looks like foamy gray, green spongy mass and grows to be 1 to 4 inches high.grows to be 1 to 4 inches high.

♣ Labrador teaLabrador tea– Labrador tea grows to be 4 to 5 feet. It – Labrador tea grows to be 4 to 5 feet. It has a woody branches with narrow 1 to 2 inches leaves. has a woody branches with narrow 1 to 2 inches leaves. This plant is smooth on the upper side with rusty nails This plant is smooth on the upper side with rusty nails underneath.underneath.

♣ Pasque flower-Pasque flower-- One of the prettiest flowers that grows - One of the prettiest flowers that grows in tundra. This flower has several stems that rises 6-8 in tundra. This flower has several stems that rises 6-8 inch off the ground. The color can range from dark inch off the ground. The color can range from dark lavender to almost white.lavender to almost white.

BearberryBearberry

Pasque FlowerPasque Flower

AnimalsAnimalsTundra animals are very familiar to those Tundra animals are very familiar to those found in the north pole, with a tick layer of found in the north pole, with a tick layer of skin and can easily hide under the snow. skin and can easily hide under the snow. This are examples of some of the animals This are examples of some of the animals that are found in that are found in tundra…tundra…

**isnt he a cutie?****isnt he a cutie?**

Types of animalsTypes of animals◄ Musk oxs-Musk oxs-- These animals have very long curvy horns - These animals have very long curvy horns

with sharp tips that have a scent for mating. They feed with sharp tips that have a scent for mating. They feed off plants, and their main animal predator are wolves.off plants, and their main animal predator are wolves.

◄ WolvesWolves– Known for their strong teeth, a fur coat and – Known for their strong teeth, a fur coat and good eye sight.good eye sight.

◄ Polar bearPolar bear– This type of animal have a white coat with – This type of animal have a white coat with sharp claws to hold their prey. Good smell sense. Most sharp claws to hold their prey. Good smell sense. Most of their food consists of seals.of their food consists of seals.

◄ FoxFox– They have coats that change between seasons. – They have coats that change between seasons. They eat lemmings, berries, eggs and gulls.They eat lemmings, berries, eggs and gulls.

◄ Brown bearBrown bear– Large animal with a fur and long claws. – Large animal with a fur and long claws. They eat large amount of berries, fish and plants.They eat large amount of berries, fish and plants.

Endangered SpeciesEndangered SpeciesThere are many reason of why animal become endangered There are many reason of why animal become endangered species, but one of the biggest treats facing the animals species, but one of the biggest treats facing the animals that live in tundra is global warming. that live in tundra is global warming. For example, polar bears are being highly affected by this For example, polar bears are being highly affected by this global warming. Scientist have reported effects in the body global warming. Scientist have reported effects in the body size and the amount of the animals have decreased 15 %. size and the amount of the animals have decreased 15 %. Polar bear is the largest four-footed carnivore on earth. Polar bear is the largest four-footed carnivore on earth. This animal can live up to 25 years. The entire body is This animal can live up to 25 years. The entire body is furred, even the bottom of the paws, which helps prevent furred, even the bottom of the paws, which helps prevent them from slipping on the ice.them from slipping on the ice.Polar bears have this tick skin made specially for the harsh Polar bears have this tick skin made specially for the harsh environment they live. Polar bears are known to be environment they live. Polar bears are known to be comfortable in freezing water and land. They can be found comfortable in freezing water and land. They can be found on pack ice, coastal islands, coastlines and out in the artic on pack ice, coastal islands, coastlines and out in the artic water.water.

Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

Peary Caribou Peary Caribou is another animal endangered is another animal endangered species. Peary Caribou are smaller than barren-species. Peary Caribou are smaller than barren-ground caribou, with a smaller face, shorter legs and ground caribou, with a smaller face, shorter legs and lighter color. In winter they have a mostly white lighter color. In winter they have a mostly white color, during the summer it turns into grey, with color, during the summer it turns into grey, with white legs.white legs.

Peary caribou are known to be around harsh, Peary caribou are known to be around harsh, treeless environment. In summer they hang around treeless environment. In summer they hang around in moist areas such as river valleys, slopes and in moist areas such as river valleys, slopes and upland plains. However, in winter they like to hang upland plains. However, in winter they like to hang around hill tops and raised beach ridges where the around hill tops and raised beach ridges where the snow layer is thinner which makes it easier to search snow layer is thinner which makes it easier to search for food.for food.

Food webFood web

Natural resourcesNatural resourcesTundra has a very cold climate. Most of the resources Tundra has a very cold climate. Most of the resources that are easily found in other biomes are hard to find that are easily found in other biomes are hard to find them here. This are the 3 most abundant resources them here. This are the 3 most abundant resources found in tundra.found in tundra.Ice-> Ice counts for 90% of the world fresh water.Ice-> Ice counts for 90% of the world fresh water.Coal-> Found in swamps as plants die and are buried Coal-> Found in swamps as plants die and are buried before they can be complety decomposed. This is used before they can be complety decomposed. This is used aa direct heat.aa direct heat.Oil-> Oil is found in the mountains lowlands and Oil-> Oil is found in the mountains lowlands and plateaus. This was made a million years ago living plateaus. This was made a million years ago living things died and as years passed they were cover by mud things died and as years passed they were cover by mud and rocks, and the pressure cause the oil to form. and rocks, and the pressure cause the oil to form.

SoilSoilCold temperature and thin sol make it Cold temperature and thin sol make it possible for artic tundra species to thrive in possible for artic tundra species to thrive in the alphie tundra. However like artic the alphie tundra. However like artic tundra soil, rain runs of rather than tundra soil, rain runs of rather than collecting in the soil, making the ground collecting in the soil, making the ground very dry.very dry.

ThreatsThreatsPollution is not something that happen right on Pollution is not something that happen right on tundra. Tundra pollution problem comes from tundra. Tundra pollution problem comes from airborne pollutants.airborne pollutants.

The biggest threats comes from oil and gas The biggest threats comes from oil and gas development which results in global warming. development which results in global warming. As the earth warms each day the permafrost As the earth warms each day the permafrost melts and tundra ecosystem will be ruin, not only melts and tundra ecosystem will be ruin, not only that but also permafrost has dead plant material that but also permafrost has dead plant material that’s is going into the air as carbon dioxide that’s is going into the air as carbon dioxide which will speed up global warming.which will speed up global warming.

**References****References**http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/tunhttp://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/tundra.html-dra.html- Oct 27 Oct 27http://webacc.fsd38.ab.ca/schools/Gibson/milz/geographhttp://webacc.fsd38.ab.ca/schools/Gibson/milz/geography/tundra_far_north_sw/tundra_far_north1.htm-y/tundra_far_north_sw/tundra_far_north1.htm- Oct 28 Oct 28http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/arctic/caribou.jpg-http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/arctic/caribou.jpg- Oct Oct 2828http://http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra_climate_page.htmwww.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra_climate_page.htm -Oct -Oct 29 29

http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEhttp://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tundra/tunill.html#tunmatOG235/biomes/tundra/tunill.html#tunmat – Oct 30 – Oct 30