Arctic Tundra
Sadie Texer
What is it?
Where is it?
Climate
Animals
In the summer months, he Brown Bear eats almost anything it can find, and stores it as a layer of fat that keeps it insulated during the winter hibernation. This fat is slowly converted to energy that is vital to the survival of the Brown Bear during its inactive period.
The Muskox adapts to the cold by growing a short and a long layer of fur. Air is trapped in the short layer of fur and is warmed by body heat, which acts as insulation. The long fur protects the Muskox from wind and water. Along with its fur, the Muskox also has large, hard, and sharp hooves that help break the think layers of ice in the winter to get the water underneath.
Arctic Wolfs has small ears, which decreases their surface area to loose heat from. They also have a double layer of fur, just like the Muskox, that is also camouflaged. Along with their fur, they have a thick layer of body fat, like the Brown Bear, and fur on their paws.
Plants
Plants tend to grow close together to prevent damage from the harsh winds that blow bits of ice and for insulation. Plants have also adapted by gaining the ability to grow under a layer of snow and carrying out photosynthesis in extremely cold temperatures.
Food Chain
1st Consumer (Herbivore): muskox and arctic hare
2nd Consumer (Carnivore): arctic foxes and brown bears
3rd Consumer (Omnivore): snowy owls, arctic foxes, and polar bears
4th Consumer: humans who hunt for fur
Human Impacts
Sources
The Tundra Biome. 2004. UCMP; [accessed 2016 Jan 28]. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/tundra.php
World Biomes. 2004. Kids Do Ecology; [accessed 2016 Jan 28]. http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/tundra.html
Photos
Tundra Wildlife and Plants. 2016. National Geographic; [accessed 2016 Jan 28]. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/tundra-wildlife-plants/#/polar-bear-tundra_338_600x450.jpg