Tundra
Vandendyck Fifth Period Charles and Jacob
Location
The Tundra biome covers about one fifth of the entire Earth. Tundra is located in the Arctic Circle, Antarctica, and many other cold locations.
Weather
The tundra is the coldest and driest biome. There is very little rainfall in the tundra. It gets only about 10 inches of rainfall per year. The winter is very long and the summer is very short. Because tundra is so close to the north pole, summer days can get up to 24 hours long. Summer temperatures rarely get over 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When the moisture sinks into the ground, it is called permafrost. The top layer of permafrost thaws, but the lower layers stay frozen for the whole year.
Plants (Adaptations & Variations Included)
Many lichens, mosses, and small shrubs live in the tundra healthily. The plants in the permafrost adapt by staying short and clumped together to protect against harsh winds. The growing season in the tundra is very short and usually only lasts for 60 days. Most of the plants have adapted to low-light and low-temperature intensities and perform photosynthesis normally.
Animals (Adaptations & Variations Included)
Lemmings, caribou, arctic hares, and even polar bears live in the tundra. The polar bears thrive on seals, walruses, and even the beluga whale. Other predatory animals consist of arctic foxes and wolves. A lot of these animals hibernate, but most of the animals are migratory. Most animals have to change their prey in season change due to migration. Predators mainly hunt herbivores, such as the caribou.
Most of the symbiosis that occurs in the tundra is predation.