Tundra Biome

Plant Life Very few plant species Cold temperature survival is necessary Plants strive on heat absorption Dark leaved plants retain heat better Some plants include: lichens, mosses, and shrubs

Animal Life Survival through extremely cold temperatures Go long periods without food Camouflage and stealth is key Fur insulates and heats animals Animals include: Arctic Fox, Snowy Owl, and Polar Bears

Abiotic Factors No true soil is present Winds and heavy snows dominate Almost no precipitation each year Freezing temperatures almost year round Water is only found in lakes

Tundra Range Tundra is found in Canada, Greenland, Alaska, Europe, Russia, and Antarctica It stretches from east to west Tundra is 20% of the earth’s land Green indicates tundra land area Mostly located in the north

Human Impact Global warming is melting the tundra Oil spills affect tundra ecosystems Human development destroys wildlife Minor pollution kills native animals Minor hunting affects population

Tundra Climate Very short growing season Extremely cold, 6-10 month winters About 5 inches of precipitation per year Short but still cold summers Great amounts of snow and persistent winds

Interesting Facts Tundra comes from the word tunturia Tunturia means treeless plain Frozen soil is called permafrost All tundra landforms are made of permafrost The sun shines all day in summer

Interesting Facts Continued Dwarf Willow- the only tree that grows in the tundra The two kinds of tundra are alpine and arctic Permafrost can go down 2000 feet Some winds reach 100 m.p.h Temperature can reach –30 degrees Celsius