Tundra Biome
Kerry & Vinh
Information
Facts
The tundra biome is an ecosystem located near the North Pole in the Arctic Circle. It is located near the North Pole in the Arctic Circle because that is one of the coldest place on the planet. The tundra biome doesn't rain because the tundra biome's water is already frozen solid.
Location
The Tundra Biome
As a result of bearberry being a low growing plant, it can stay out of the wind chill. The bearberry's silky hairs also helps it keep warm.
Plants that lives there
The Arctic moss can survive in the Tundra Biome, because it is an aquatic plant which can grow underwater in the tundra. Like most plants that lives in the tundra, the Arctic moss grows low to the ground to avoid harsh winds and freezing cold.
The tufted saxifrage can survive in the harsh tundra, because it has a developed underground root system, that can not be frozen inside. It also grows mats which can live on trees and rocks as well as the ground.
The Arctic fox is similar to the Arctic wolf, having low surface area to the volume ratio. Compared to other species of foxes, the Arctic fox has shorter legs, shorter nects, and small ears.
The Arctic fox has thick seasonal camouflaged fur what is always thick. They grow two rather distinct versions over the course of a year. The summer coat of the Arctic fox is thinner than the dark grey to a brown. The colour allows it to be camouflaged against the darker background. When the ice and snow of winter has melted, the winter coat is extremely thick making the Arctic fox look abit more rounded, also making the white very camouflaging against a frozen background.
A quick and easy way of avoiding the worst weather is by tunnelling under the snow. This makes the Arctic fox avoids the biting wind and also gain extra insulation from snow.
Even though small, the Arctic fox's ears are pointed forward and very directional. The Arctic fox can hear their main preys, lemming and moving through tunnels, they make in the snow which allows the Arctic fox to pounce the area where the sound is coming from allowing the Arctic fox to not need see the prey, and the prey not aware that the fox is about to pounce.
Animals that lives there.
The Arctic wolf has small ears which reduces their surface area to volume ratio
The Arctic wolf's coat is always thick and highly insulating. The Arctic wolf's coat is light in colour but sometimes can be quite grey.
The fur on the paws of the Arctic wolf is to insulate the Arctic wolves from snow and ice, and also helps it grip on slippery surfaces better.
The thick layer of body fat of the Arctic wolf is for food storage to help it survive the winter when food supply might be intermittent.
The Arctic wolf's countercurrent heat exchanger in the paws has a mechanism that keeps Arctic wolves at a lower temperature than the body core. Minimising heat loss via that is in contact with the ground. Blood that enters the paws is used to heat up blood that is leaving.
Polar bears can swim in the icy Arctic Ocean without freezing. Polar bears have thick oily fur coats and a layer of fat (called blubber) under the polar bear's skin.vWhen polar bears come out of the water, they shake the water off their coats.
The polar bear's big feet are like snowshoes. The hair on the soles of its feet helps the polar bear walk on the slippery ice and snow. It walks with its toes pointing inward to avoid slipping.
Polar bears are great swimmers. Polar bears have large forepaws with partially webbed toes. The polar bears uses their hind legs as rudders and paddle with their front legs.
Polar bears has an excellent sense of smell and can sniff dead animals from a long distance. They can also find seals in dens underneath the snow.
Polar bear's claws helps them catch seals and their giant teeth are for tearing the preys apart.