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The Tundra Biome By Josh Mellits & Eric Schorr What is a tundra? Vast, nearly level, treeless plains of the arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America Coldest of all biomes A.K.A - Polar grasslands Where is it found? The tundra ecosystems can be generally found along the upper portions of the northern hemisphere How’s the weather? As one can see, the general temperature of the tundra climate during the year is well below 00C. During the summer, temperatures rise up to 5-60C What’s Growing? Tufted Saxifrage Common Name: Saxifrage Genus: Saxifraga Species: caespitosa -Saxifraga comes from the Latin word "rock breaker". Pasque Flower Common Name: Pasque Flower Genus: Anemone Species: patens Caribou Moss Common Name: Caribou Moss, Reindeer Lichen Genus: Cladonia Species: rangiferina What’s Growing? (Continued) Arctic Willow Common Name(s): Rock Willow Genus: Salix Species: arctica Bearberry Common name: Bearberry, Foxberry, and Kinnikinic Genus: Arctostaphylos Species: uva-ursi Leaves of the berry are somtimes added in tobacco or substituted in its place. Tea from the leaves can treat kidney or bladder issues What lives here? Predators of the tundra – the carnivores and secondary consumers Prey of the tundra – the herbivores and omnivores; the primary consumers Predators of the Tundra Snowy Owl – small; hunt in daytime and nighttime. – – – – Adaptation to 24 hour daylight of tundra in summer Change color - brown in summer, white in winter Prey on lemmings – around 12/day They nest on ground on highest and driest portions of biome Arctic Fox - – Size of a cat – the warmest fur of any mammal – Colors change through seasons brownish in summer and white in winter. – Hunt lemmings – Tough animals; will travel long distances for food – Arctic foxes very well adapted to the cold - have fur on the bottom of feet Prey of the Tundra Musk Oxen – – – – – – – Insects – – – – Small herds - 10 or 12 Eat small plants and lichens Very hardy; covered with thick, soft, very warm fur Common prey of non-tundra wolves Horns for protection. When attacked - form a circle with adults facing out and young calves in center. Arctic fly: only seen on days above freezing and with no wind Dark in color and hairy to stay warm Some contain antifreeze agents in bodies to prevent freezing of cells and body fluids Lemmings – – – – – – – small rodents eat plants look like hamsters brownish or dark gray in summer in winter lemming fur turns white Burrowers and tunnel makers Breed rapidly Food Web Caribou Arctic lichens Saxifrage Arctic willow Soil • Permafrost - frozen portion of ground (can be up to 2000ft thick) • Plants and microorganisms grow within • Incapable of absorbing surface water • Earth soil forms slowly – gravel, rocks and dirt • Build-up of surface water leads to bogs and ponds – moisture for plantlife • Landscape formed through freezing process of soil Symbiotic Relationship Symbiotic Relationship – – – – – Lichens dominate tundra – primary producer Covered in ice 3 years but still live Symbiotic between alga and fungus Mutualistic relationship Alga gives food; fungus gives water – Alga avoids dehydration and fungus avoids starvation – Dual-relationship between alga and fungus allows lichen to survive in an area where life naturally struggles Abiotic Factors Abiotic – – Cold and dry winds – Land formations: Pingos – hills formed by trapped ponds of water from permafrost Frost boils - widening circles of stones caused by thawing and freezing of water Bumpy ground - variations in ground thawing and freezing Polygons - geometric land forms filled by water Stripes – division of rocks by thawing and freezing – Earthquakes – Volcanoes – Gravity The “human” Factor Damage to the Tundra – – Mines and oil industry cause damage to the land and soil; loss of fossil fuels and draining of resources – Development of human civilization interrupts animal migration and food patterns – Damage to permafrost by vehicles and rigs – Pollution affects delicate ecosystem – Pesticides affect migration of insects which leads to changes in eating habits of birds in the tundra – Extreme hunting efforts by humans of musk oxen and caribou have led to possible extinction of both animals What can we do? Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center – Wildlife foundations and reserves – Federal parks and preservations Drilling for Oil is causing major damage to wildlife and environment – Lobbying for better ways of getting fossil fuel oil – Beyond petroleum solutions – new energy sources Works Cited http://www.cedcc.psu.edu/khanjan/best_alaska_pix/best_of_alaska.htm http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tundra http://www.openlands.org/midewin/sampleclimat.pdf http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/tundra5/tundra5.html http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/tundra.html http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=biomes&topic=t undra&subtopic=soilland http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra_plant_page.htm http://www.biosbcc.net/ocean/marinesci/04benthon/arclife.htm http://www.angelfire.com/ult/sciproj5/abfeatures.html http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=biomes&topic=t undra&subtopic=soilland http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/biomes/tundra.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=impact&topic=t undra&subtopic=environmental&subsubtopic=air_pollution http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=impact&topic=t undra&subtopic=environmental&subsubtopic=hunted
