Tundra Biome Project
By Laci Crumpton
Tundra Biome Description
Tundra is located in the northern hemisphere. Some general characteristics are Tundra comes from the finnish word "tunturia", which means a barren land. The ground is permanently frozen 10 inches to 3 feet down so the trees cant grow there.
Abiotic Factors.
Tundra is located at latitudes at 50 degrees to 70 degrees north, the tundra is a vast and treeless land which covers about 20% of the earths surface.It is usually cold, and the land is pretty stark. conditions are not right for true tundras to form. Average annual tempetures are -7 degrees F
The tundra is basically like a desert when it comes to precipitation. Only about 6 - 10 inches of precipitation (mostly snow) fall each year.
Landforms;
In the winter it is cold and dark and in the summer, when the snow and the top layer of permafrost melt, it is very soggy and the tundra is covered with marshes, lakes, bogs and streams that breed thousands of insects and attract many migrating birds.
The Tundra has a lot of plants and animals
Biotic Factors
You would think think that plants would never liver or survive in this biome. Many lichens, mosses, and small shrubs flourish in the arctic tundra.The plants that live in the harsh permafrost soil usually adapt to the weather by being short and grouped together to resist winds and to be protected.
You may think that the tundra is too chilly for animals, but guess what - it’s not. There are actually animals that live in this harsh biome! You might find lemmings, caribou, and arctic hares in the tundra. These animals seem pretty nice, but can you guess which the largest and most dangerous animal is that lives in the tundra?
EcologicaL concerns or issues
The tundra may seem tough, but it is a very sensitive environment. More people have recently been moving to the tundra to work in the mines and oil industry. New towns and roads are being built to support the increased population. Developments have interrupted many of the animals’ migrations and feeding patterns, as well as caused damage to the permafrost. It takes so long for the tundra to recover that tire tracks and footprints remain on the ground for decades after they were made. In areas of the tundra there are also many natural resources, such as oil. People worry that pollution from these mines and rigs may ruin the fragile ecosystem.