Tundra
Not for the weak
Vitals
There are 2 different types of tundra: alpine and arctic. Arctic tundras are located in the Northern Hemisphere in areas such as Northern Canada, Greenland, and Russia where all of the soil is frozen so trees can't grow. Alpine tundras occur on mountains (ex. Colrado) where the altitude is so high that trees can't grow.
Climate
Arctic
During the winter the average temperature is -18 F but can drop as low as -50. In the summer the temperature rises considerably up to around 54 degrees F. Tundras are very windy and winds often blow between 30-60 mph. There is minimal rainfall (6-10 in. per year).
Plants
Arctic moss
Arctic moss stays near or even underwater in the tundra. It has tiny rootlets instead of deep roots and sends out spores to reproduce. This plant can live up to 9 years. It adapts to the cold climate by storing nutrients during winter so it can grow as many leaves as possible in the spring. The more leaves the more photosynthesis. It also survives the wind by growing close to the ground or under water.
Caribou moss
Is actually a lichen and grows on the rocks and the ground. It can make its own food when the temperature is low and there is little light and isn't at all damaged by frost. When conditions are too bad for growth they go dormant but can grow again after years of dormancy.
Pasqueflower
Pretty flower that only grows on southward slopes of alpine tundras. It grows low off the ground (only 6-8 in) to avoid harsh winds and cold
Bearberry
A low growing plant that is found in the tundra environment. It has leathery leaves that protect it from the cold and it also has silk hairs that keep it warm.
Tufted Saxifrage
A small flowering plant that grows in thick mats in the tundra. This plant likes cool weather and has a expansive underground root system that stores carbohydrates for when the bad weather comes
Animals
Snowy Owl
One of the largest and most beautiful of all owls. They make their nests out of frozen turf and moss on ridges or hills. Sometimes when food is scare nestlings are eaten by larger birds. Snowy owls are predators and help stop overpopulation. They eat arctic foxes, rabbits, lemmings, voles and other seabirds. They have good eyesight and sensitive hearing which allows them to find lemmings and voles under the surface and hunt them. They also have long broad wings that let them fly close to the ground to snatch their prey.
Caribou
They are members of the deer family but are distinguished because of their elaborate antlers. Caribou have large hooves that allow them to move around in thick snow and marsh. They are good swimmers and can lower their metabolism and go into semi-hibernation when food is scarce. Caribou eat the leaves of shrubs, willows, and flowering plants and in the winter move snow around with their hooves to get to these plants
Arctic fox
The Arctic fox makes it home in small burrows on frost free ground usually in mounds or rock piles. To avoid predators such as the snowy owl, wolves, and bears the fox has adapted stealthy movements and changes the color of its fur for camouflage. It has thick fur and short limbs that allow it to conserve heat. The arctic fox is an omnivore. It eats berries and shrubs when food is scarce but prefers to eat meat. The snowy fox is both a predator and a scavenger. It is the largest predator of lemmings and voles and helps manage their population. The arctic fox also will follow large predators such as polar bears and eats the remains of small mammals such as birds and fish. They keep the environment clean by eating dead animals and keeping rodents away.
Polar Bear
Polar bears are the largest land carnivores in the tundra. They have black skin and a thick layer of blubber underneath their fur which helps them easily absorb heat. They also can swim. Polar bears primarily hunt and eat seal but also whale and walrus carcasses. In the summer when they venture inland they prey on lemmings and arctic foxes. When they eat large animals like seals and leave the carcass it allows scavengers like foxes to eat.
Ermine
Ermine live in marshy areas under rocks in the tundra. They are prey to snowy owls, arctic foxes and other large mammals. To adapt to this they camouflage their fur to white in the winter time opposed to brown in the spring and also dig to avoid predators. Ermine are carnivores and eat rabbits and rodents. Because of their sharp teeth they can eat animals larger than themselves. When it's winter time ermine hunt entirely under the snow for rodents.
Concerns
The tundra is important because it is a carbon dioxide sink. This means that it takes in more than it releases. That is important because carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas that causes global warming. The tundra is also home to many plants and animals that can't live anywhere else. These contribute to the biodiversity of the earth. Currently, global warming is melting layers of permafrost and is taking away several feet of tundra away each year. Pollution from mining and oil drilling are killing the biome also by polluting the water and lakes in the tundra. The Chemicals in the pesticides are killing plants also. Common tundra animals such as the grizzly bear and the polar bear are currently endangered