Transcript tundra
By: KYLE GRESH SEAN KILCULLEN ALEXIS SNOCK Where The Tundra is Located The Arctic tundra is located in the northern hemisphere surrounding the north pole. It extends south to the forests of the taiga. The Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes. The Alpine Tundra The alpine tundra is located on the tops of mountains at high altitudes where trees can not grow. Geological Features of the Tundra • Extremely cold climate – this causes the soil to be frozen for much of the year • Permafrost is the layer under the top layer of the tundra that never melts. • Low biotic diversity – they’re aren’t may organisms that live in the Tundra. • Simple vegetation structure - there are no deep root systems and the soil lacks nutrients. • Limitation of drainage – do to frozen soil • Short season of growth and reproduction – summer is from May to July • Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material • Large population is continually changing – animals migrate to get food Temperature and Precipitation • Average Summer Temperature = -12 degrees Celsius • Average Winter Temperature = -34 degrees Celsius • The average precipitation per year is 20cm. Plants of Tundra • Arctic Moss- This aquatic plant grows on the bottom of tundra lake beds and in and near bogs and fens. They never have wood stems, but they have tiny leaves on the steams. They only grow a centimeter per year, but they live for 7-9 years. They are brown and their branches are very crowded. This moss covers and warms the ground so other plants can grow. It is eaten mostly by migrating animals such as birds. • Bearberry- This low growing evergreen has a steam that is 2-8 inches and is covered in thick bark and fine silky hairs. They have oval shaped leaved that are about an inch long. The flowers on these plants have five petals and are light pink or white. The fruit is a small red berry that bears feed on. They are mostly found in non-nutrient soils. Plants Continued • Lichen- It grows on the exposed surface of rocks. They are made up of a fungus and algae that live and grow together. In fall, the lichen turns many different colors. Lichen is eaten by many animals including the caribou and musk oxen. • Cotton Grass- The total height of this plant is 1-3 feet, but the flower is only about 1-2 inches. This wild flower takes up large fields in the tundra during the summer. When the wind blows the seeds are dispersed throughout the fields in the tundra. Plants Continued • Arctic Willow- They are 15-20 centimeters in height and have many different shapes. They often grow as a shrub or a carpet. The oval shaped leaves, which range from 15-50 mm. in length, grow long hairs to survive in the cold weather. The upright scaly spikes of the flowers have no petals and bloom in the spring. They are about 5 centimeter and are dark brown or pink. They have a shallow root system due the frozen ground under the permafrost. Animals of Tundra • Arctic Foxes-Their height at their shoulder is 10-12 inches and they can weigh from 6-10 pounds. They are normally white in the winter and brownish grey in the summer. They have the warmest fur of any mammal. They also have thick hair on the pads of their feet to insulate and provide traction on ice. The foxes feed mostly on small animals such as lemmings and voles. • Snowy Owl- They live in tundra year round. When they are fully grown, they are pure white. Their feet are covered with feathers with extra thick pads. They have very good vision so they can see their prey especially at night. These owls are both nocturnal and diurnal. They hunt at night, but because it doesn’t get dark in the summer, they can hunt during the day too. Animals Continued • • Musk Oxen- They range from 3-5 feet tall and weigh anywhere from 500-900 pounds. They have shaggy, silky brown fur. They also have broad, flat horns. They eat willow and a variety of plants, such as grasses and sedges. Their fur, which ranges from 3-4 inches, covers their whole body, including the udders. Caribou- They are a member of the deer family. They have soft hallow fur, long legs, large hooves, and large antlers that reach about 3 feet. Most females have antlers as well as the males. They are grayish brown with white on their neck and back. They range from 4-5 feet and are over 500 pounds. They travel in herds and are always on the move. They feed mostly on moss and lichen. Animals Continued • Arctic Hare- They range from 22-28 inches and weigh about 9-12 pounds. They have short ears and they’re fur changes color with the seasons. They are brown during the summer, white during the winter and they’re ears are tipped with black all year. The arctic hare lives in groups on rocky slopes and upland tundra. They mostly eat willow, but they also feed on grasses and flowers. Adaptations - Animals • Winter Coat – traps heat in body to keep warm • Camouflage – Helps animals blend into surroundings and protects them from predators. • Hibernation – a deep sleep to escape hardships of winter when it is cold and there is no food. • Reproduction – breed and raise young quickly in the summer. • Additional Insulation From Fat • Birds migrate south Adaptations - Plants • Plants are short and grouped together. • Protective covering – Thick “fur” (tiny hairs) to protect from wind. • Carry out photosynthesis at low temperatures and low light. • Reproduce by budding rather than flowering. Human Impact • Humans destroy the Tundra by mining coal and other metals. • Chemicals used for mining destroy habitats and ruin soil. • Mining trucks going to and from cause pollution by burning fossil fuels. • Humans build oil lines that destroy the animals’ habitats. • Global Warming – as the planet warms, the permafrost melts and releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as dead plant material decays. Releasing carbon dioxide increases global warming. How to Protect the Tundra • Stop drilling near and in animal habitats • Reduce use of harmful chemicals when mining. • Build less pipelines so animals are not harmed by leaks. Commercial Value • Oil and gas pipeline development is used to produce more fossil fuels for humans to use. • In the tundra, there are many places where humans can mine for precious metals, such as gold, silver, coal, and nickel. Our Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Where is the Arctic Tundra located? What cannot grow in the Alpine Tundra? What is the average precipitation per year? What is permafrost? Name two plants and two animals in the tundra. What animal has the warmest fur of any mammal? What is hibernation? Name one way plants have adapted to the Tundra weather. 9. Name one way humans impact the Tundra. 10. What metals are mined in the Tundra? Works Cited • • • • Http://library.thinkquest.org/3500/arctic_fox.htm http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/tundra/ http://www.go2moon.com/image/Flowers/Flower Page-Cotton.html • http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/tundra.htm • http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes.tu ndra.php • http://www.google.com/images Who did what. • Kyle – maps, geological features, commercial value. • Alexis – Types of plants, types of animals, questions. • Sean Michael Kilcullen – Temperature and Precipitation, Adaptations, Human Impact and how to save the tundra