Download tundra

By: KYLE GRESH
SEAN KILCULLEN
ALEXIS SNOCK
Where The Tundra is Located
The Arctic tundra is located in the northern hemisphere
surrounding the north pole. It extends south to the forests
of the taiga. The Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes.
The Alpine Tundra
The alpine tundra is located on the tops of mountains at high
altitudes where trees can not grow.
Geological Features of the Tundra
• Extremely cold climate – this causes the soil
to be frozen for much of the year
• Permafrost is the layer under the top layer of
the tundra that never melts.
• Low biotic diversity – they’re aren’t may
organisms that live in the Tundra.
• Simple vegetation structure - there are no
deep root systems and the soil lacks
nutrients.
• Limitation of drainage – do to frozen soil
• Short season of growth and reproduction –
summer is from May to July
• Energy and nutrients in the form of dead
organic material
• Large population is continually changing –
animals migrate to get food
Temperature and Precipitation
• Average Summer Temperature =
-12 degrees Celsius
• Average Winter Temperature =
-34 degrees Celsius
• The average precipitation per year is
20cm.
Plants of Tundra
•
Arctic Moss- This aquatic plant grows on
the bottom of tundra lake beds and in and
near bogs and fens. They never have wood
stems, but they have tiny leaves on the
steams. They only grow a centimeter per
year, but they live for 7-9 years. They are
brown and their branches are very crowded.
This moss covers and warms the ground so
other plants can grow. It is eaten mostly by
migrating animals such as birds.
•
Bearberry- This low growing evergreen has
a steam that is 2-8 inches and is covered in
thick bark and fine silky hairs. They have
oval shaped leaved that are about an inch
long. The flowers on these plants have five
petals and are light pink or white. The fruit is
a small red berry that bears feed on. They
are mostly found in non-nutrient soils.
Plants Continued
• Lichen- It grows on the exposed
surface of rocks. They are made up
of a fungus and algae that live and
grow together. In fall, the lichen turns
many different colors. Lichen is
eaten by many animals including the
caribou and musk oxen.
• Cotton Grass- The total height of this
plant is 1-3 feet, but the flower is only
about 1-2 inches. This wild flower
takes up large fields in the tundra
during the summer. When the wind
blows the seeds are dispersed
throughout the fields in the tundra.
Plants Continued
• Arctic Willow- They are 15-20 centimeters in height and
have many different shapes. They often grow as a shrub
or a carpet. The oval shaped leaves, which range from
15-50 mm. in length, grow long hairs to survive in the
cold weather. The upright scaly spikes of the flowers
have no petals and bloom in the spring. They are about
5 centimeter and are dark brown or pink. They have a
shallow root system due the frozen ground under the
permafrost.
Animals of Tundra
•
Arctic Foxes-Their height at their shoulder is
10-12 inches and they can weigh from 6-10
pounds. They are normally white in the winter
and brownish grey in the summer. They have
the warmest fur of any mammal. They also
have thick hair on the pads of their feet to
insulate and provide traction on ice. The
foxes feed mostly on small animals such as
lemmings and voles.
•
Snowy Owl- They live in tundra year round.
When they are fully grown, they are pure
white. Their feet are covered with feathers
with extra thick pads. They have very good
vision so they can see their prey especially at
night. These owls are both nocturnal and
diurnal. They hunt at night, but because it
doesn’t get dark in the summer, they can hunt
during the day too.
Animals Continued
•
•
Musk Oxen- They range from 3-5 feet tall
and weigh anywhere from 500-900
pounds. They have shaggy, silky brown
fur. They also have broad, flat horns. They
eat willow and a variety of plants, such as
grasses and sedges. Their fur, which
ranges from 3-4 inches, covers their whole
body, including the udders.
Caribou- They are a member of the deer
family. They have soft hallow fur, long
legs, large hooves, and large antlers that
reach about 3 feet. Most females have
antlers as well as the males. They are
grayish brown with white on their neck and
back. They range from 4-5 feet and are
over 500 pounds. They travel in herds and
are always on the move. They feed mostly
on moss and lichen.
Animals Continued
• Arctic Hare- They range from 22-28 inches and weigh
about 9-12 pounds. They have short ears and they’re fur
changes color with the seasons. They are brown during
the summer, white during the winter and they’re ears are
tipped with black all year. The arctic hare lives in groups
on rocky slopes and upland tundra. They mostly eat
willow, but they also feed on grasses and flowers.
Adaptations - Animals
• Winter Coat – traps heat in body to keep warm
• Camouflage – Helps animals blend into
surroundings and protects them from predators.
• Hibernation – a deep sleep to escape hardships
of winter when it is cold and there is no food.
• Reproduction – breed and raise young quickly in
the summer.
• Additional Insulation From Fat
• Birds migrate south
Adaptations - Plants
• Plants are short and grouped together.
• Protective covering – Thick “fur” (tiny hairs) to
protect from wind.
• Carry out photosynthesis at low temperatures
and low light.
• Reproduce by budding rather than flowering.
Human Impact
• Humans destroy the Tundra by mining coal and other
metals.
• Chemicals used for mining destroy habitats and ruin soil.
• Mining trucks going to and from cause pollution by
burning fossil fuels.
• Humans build oil lines that destroy the animals’ habitats.
• Global Warming – as the planet warms, the permafrost
melts and releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere as dead plant material decays.
Releasing carbon dioxide increases global warming.
How to Protect the Tundra
• Stop drilling near and in animal habitats
• Reduce use of harmful chemicals when
mining.
• Build less pipelines so animals are not
harmed by leaks.
Commercial Value
• Oil and gas pipeline development is used
to produce more fossil fuels for humans to
use.
• In the tundra, there are many places
where humans can mine for precious
metals, such as gold, silver, coal, and
nickel.
Our Questions
1.
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8.
Where is the Arctic Tundra located?
What cannot grow in the Alpine Tundra?
What is the average precipitation per year?
What is permafrost?
Name two plants and two animals in the tundra.
What animal has the warmest fur of any mammal?
What is hibernation?
Name one way plants have adapted to the Tundra
weather.
9. Name one way humans impact the Tundra.
10. What metals are mined in the Tundra?
Works Cited
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Http://library.thinkquest.org/3500/arctic_fox.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/tundra/
http://www.go2moon.com/image/Flowers/Flower
Page-Cotton.html
• http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/tundra.htm
• http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes.tu
ndra.php
• http://www.google.com/images
Who did what.
• Kyle – maps, geological features,
commercial value.
• Alexis – Types of plants, types of animals,
questions.
• Sean Michael Kilcullen – Temperature and
Precipitation, Adaptations, Human Impact
and how to save the tundra