Download Tundra and Taiga notes

The Tundra Biome
The Tundra Biome
Northern Most Land
Biome
The Tundra Biome- Abiotic
Coldest Biome on Earth: Located far north “top of the
world”
Less than ten inches of Rain each Year
Soil is permanently frozen- Permafrost
Soil is Nutrient- poor
Summer Season is under 10 degrees Fahrenheit
Winter Season averages –30 degrees Fahrenheit
Strong Winds- make temperatures very cold and low
diversity of life
Cotton Grass Field in Tundra
Plant Life
Cotton Grass
Arctic Moss
Lichen
Arctic Willow
Plant Adaptations
Most of the plants are small, grow
close together and close to the
ground. This protects them from the
cold temperatures and the strong
winds
Some flowering plants have fuzzy
coverings on the stems, leaves and
buds to provide protection from the
wind. Some have woolly seed covers.
Other Plant Adaptations
Others are dark colored so the plants can
absorb more solar heat.
Only the top layer of soil thaws out so
plants have shallow roots.
Small leaves help the plants retain
moisture.
Lichen and some mosses can survive on
bare rock
Plant Life
Cotton Grass
Artic Moss
Lichen
Artic Willow
Snowy Owl
Animals
Caribou
Arctic
Fox
Musk Ox
Polar Bear
Animal Adaptations
Long Thick Fur
Migration- Caribou, birds, and others
Short Legs- (Many Rodents in the Tundra)
Small activity during the winter
Camouflage- Artic fox and snowy owl
Store up food
Large amounts of Fat to stay warm
Underground Tunnels- Under Snow to stay warm
Forests that contain
conifer trees.
Conifer trees are
trees that produce
cone shaped seeds
and have needle
shaped leaves.
long cold winters, 40° to 68°, average
summer
temperature is 50°
Canada, Alaska, Northern Europe,
and Russia
http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/images/taiga/taiga_500.jpg
Coniferous Forest- Abiotic
Factors
Long cold winters, short mild summers.
Moderate amount of Rainfall
Frozen Soil for several months keeps plants from
getting water.
Artic Winds create temperatures that stay under
50 degrees for most of the year.
Plant life in the Coniferous ForestBiotic Factors
Conifer–ous Forest
- “Cone –bearing plants”
Plants include- Pines, evergreens, spruce, etc.
AdaptationsCone shape of tree and long thin needles prevent
snow accumulation
Don’t lose leaves and have to grow new ones (use
less energy)
Less rainfall than the deciduous forest- long thin
needles means less surface area to lose water
Thick Bark that conserves water loss.
Picture taken by Ms. B
http://www.ourbc.com/travel_bc/bc_cities/
yellowhead_hwy/photos/terrace/cedar_tre
e_01_640.jpg
http://www.babble.com/CS/bl
ogs/strollerderby/2008/01/0815/redwood-forest.jpg
Usually only one or two types of
conifers, evergreen trees. Pine,
Cedar, Red-wood, spruce.
http://sprucetreesforsale.com/williams_spruce_trees001005.jpg
Animals
Black Bears, Wolves, Foxes, Eagles, Bobcats
Adaptations: ?
Animals
Black Bears, Wolves, Foxes, Eagles, Bobcats
Adaptations:
Thick fur
Hibernation
Birds migrate where food is more available
and climate is warmer.
Store up food during warmer seasons
Elk, brown bear,
beaver, deer, lynx,
wolf, woodpeckers,
hawks, shrews
http://www.lindaslearninglinks.com/beavers3.jpg
Tundra
Amount of
Precipitation
Taiga
Tundra
Yearly
Temperatures
in Celsius.
Taiga