The Tundra BiomeThe Tundra Biome

By Josh Mellits By Josh Mellits

& Eric Schorr& Eric Schorr

What is a tundra?What is a tundra?

Vast, nearly level, treeless plains of Vast, nearly level, treeless plains of the arctic regions of Europe, Asia, the arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North Americaand North America

Coldest of all biomesColdest of all biomes A.K.A - Polar grasslandsA.K.A - Polar grasslands

Where is it found?Where is it found?

The tundra ecosystems can be generally found along the upper portions of the northern hemisphere

How’s the weather?How’s the weather?

As one can see, the general temperature of the tundra climate during the year is well below 00C.

During the summer, temperatures rise up to 5-60C

What’s Growing?What’s Growing?Tufted SaxifrageCommon Name: SaxifrageGenus: SaxifragaSpecies: caespitosa-Saxifraga comes from the Latin word "rock breaker".

Pasque FlowerCommon Name: Pasque FlowerGenus: AnemoneSpecies: patens

Caribou MossCommon Name: Caribou Moss, Reindeer LichenGenus: CladoniaSpecies: rangiferina

What’s Growing?What’s Growing?(Continued)(Continued)

Arctic WillowArctic WillowCommon Name(s):Common Name(s): Rock Willow Rock WillowGenus:Genus: Salix SalixSpecies:Species: arctica arctica

BearberryBearberryCommon nameCommon name: Bearberry, Foxberry, and Kinnikinic: Bearberry, Foxberry, and KinnikinicGenusGenus: Arctostaphylos: Arctostaphylos

SpeciesSpecies: uva-ursi: uva-ursi Leaves of the berry are somtimes added in tobacco or substituted in its Leaves of the berry are somtimes added in tobacco or substituted in its

place. Tea from the leaves can treat kidney or bladder issuesplace. Tea from the leaves can treat kidney or bladder issues

What lives here?What lives here?

Predators of the tundra – the Predators of the tundra – the carnivores and secondary consumerscarnivores and secondary consumers

Prey of the tundra – the herbivores Prey of the tundra – the herbivores and omnivores; the primary and omnivores; the primary consumersconsumers

Predators of the TundraPredators of the Tundra Snowy Owl Snowy Owl – small; hunt in daytime and nighttime.– small; hunt in daytime and nighttime.

– Adaptation to 24 hour daylight of tundra in summerAdaptation to 24 hour daylight of tundra in summer– Change color - brown in summer, white in winter Change color - brown in summer, white in winter – Prey on lemmings – around 12/dayPrey on lemmings – around 12/day– They nest on ground on highest and driest portions of biomeThey nest on ground on highest and driest portions of biome

Arctic Fox - Arctic Fox - – Size of a catSize of a cat– the warmest fur of any mammalthe warmest fur of any mammal– Colors change through seasons Colors change through seasons brownish in summer and brownish in summer and

white in winter. white in winter. – Hunt lemmings Hunt lemmings – Tough animals; will travel long distances for food Tough animals; will travel long distances for food – Arctic foxes Arctic foxes very well adapted to the cold - have fur on the very well adapted to the cold - have fur on the

bottom of feetbottom of feet

Prey of the TundraPrey of the Tundra Musk Oxen –Musk Oxen –

– Small herds - 10 or 12 Small herds - 10 or 12 – Eat small plants and lichensEat small plants and lichens– Very hardy; covered with thick, soft, very warm fur Very hardy; covered with thick, soft, very warm fur – Common prey of non-tundra wolves Common prey of non-tundra wolves – Horns for protection. Horns for protection. – When attacked - form a circle with adults facing out and young calves in center.When attacked - form a circle with adults facing out and young calves in center.

         

Insects – Insects – – Arctic fly: only seen on days above freezing and with no windArctic fly: only seen on days above freezing and with no wind– Dark in color and hairy to stay warmDark in color and hairy to stay warm– Some contain antifreeze agents in bodies to prevent freezing of cells and body fluidsSome contain antifreeze agents in bodies to prevent freezing of cells and body fluids

Lemmings -Lemmings -– small rodents small rodents – eat plantseat plants– look like hamsterslook like hamsters– brownish or dark gray in summerbrownish or dark gray in summer– in winter lemming fur turns whitein winter lemming fur turns white– Burrowers and tunnel makersBurrowers and tunnel makers– Breed rapidlyBreed rapidly

Food WebFood Web

Caribou

Saxifrage

Arctic willow

Arctic lichens

SoilSoil• Permafrost - frozen portion of ground (can be up to 2000ft thick)

• Plants and microorganisms grow within• Incapable of absorbing surface water

• Earth soil forms slowly – gravel, rocks and dirt• Build-up of surface water leads to bogs and ponds – moisture for plantlife• Landscape formed through freezing process of soil

Symbiotic RelationshipSymbiotic Relationship

Symbiotic Relationship –Symbiotic Relationship –– Lichens dominate tundra – primary producerLichens dominate tundra – primary producer– Covered in ice Covered in ice 3 years but still live 3 years but still live– Symbiotic between alga and fungusSymbiotic between alga and fungus– Mutualistic relationship Mutualistic relationship Alga gives food; Alga gives food;

fungus gives waterfungus gives water– Alga avoids dehydration and fungus avoids Alga avoids dehydration and fungus avoids

starvationstarvation– Dual-relationship between alga and fungus Dual-relationship between alga and fungus

allows lichen to survive in an area where life allows lichen to survive in an area where life naturally struggles naturally struggles

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors Abiotic – Abiotic –

– Cold and dry windsCold and dry winds– Land formations:Land formations:

Pingos – hills formed by trapped ponds of water from Pingos – hills formed by trapped ponds of water from permafrostpermafrost

Frost boils - widening circles of stones caused by Frost boils - widening circles of stones caused by thawing and freezing of waterthawing and freezing of water

Bumpy ground - variations in ground thawing and Bumpy ground - variations in ground thawing and freezing freezing

Polygons - geometric land forms filled by water Polygons - geometric land forms filled by water Stripes – division of rocks by thawing and freezingStripes – division of rocks by thawing and freezing

– Earthquakes Earthquakes – VolcanoesVolcanoes– Gravity Gravity

The “human” FactorThe “human” Factor Damage to the Tundra – Damage to the Tundra –

– Mines and oil industry cause damage to the land and Mines and oil industry cause damage to the land and soil; loss of fossil fuels and draining of resourcessoil; loss of fossil fuels and draining of resources

– Development of human civilization interrupts animal Development of human civilization interrupts animal migration and food patternsmigration and food patterns

– Damage to permafrost by vehicles and rigsDamage to permafrost by vehicles and rigs– Pollution affects delicate ecosystemPollution affects delicate ecosystem– Pesticides affect migration of insects which leads to Pesticides affect migration of insects which leads to

changes in eating habits of birds in the tundrachanges in eating habits of birds in the tundra– Extreme hunting efforts by humans of musk oxen and Extreme hunting efforts by humans of musk oxen and

caribou have led to possible extinction of both animalscaribou have led to possible extinction of both animals

What can What can wewe dodo??

Alaska Wildlife Conservation CenterAlaska Wildlife Conservation Center– Wildlife foundations and reservesWildlife foundations and reserves– Federal parks and preservationsFederal parks and preservations

Drilling for Oil is causing major Drilling for Oil is causing major damage to wildlife and environmentdamage to wildlife and environment– Lobbying for better ways of getting fossil Lobbying for better ways of getting fossil

fuel oilfuel oil– Beyond petroleum solutions – new Beyond petroleum solutions – new

energy sourcesenergy sources

Works CitedWorks Cited http://www.cedcc.psu.edu/khanjan/best_alaska_pix/best_of_alaska.htm http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tundra http://www.openlands.org/midewin/sampleclimat.pdf http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/tundra5/tundra5.html http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/tundra.html http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=biomes&topic=t

undra&subtopic=soilland http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra_plant_page.htm http://www.biosbcc.net/ocean/marinesci/04benthon/arclife.htm http://www.angelfire.com/ult/sciproj5/abfeatures.html http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=biomes&topic=t

undra&subtopic=soilland http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/biomes/tundra.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?

section=impact&topic=tundra&subtopic=environmental&subsubtopic=air_pollution

http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=impact&topic=tundra&subtopic=environmental&subsubtopic=hunted