TUNDRA Matt, Courtney, Carina

WHERE IS ECOSYSTEM LOCATED? Located in the far northern part of the world by the North Pole One fifth of earth’s surface is Tundra including parts of Canada, Alaska, Russia, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway

DESCRIBE THE ABIOTIC FACTORS OF YOUR ECOSYSTEM Permafrost soil frozen most of the year\surface thaws in summer In the winter average temperatures it is -30 degrees F The sun does not rise for several months, when it does it is only for a short time

PRODUCER: LICHEN. HOW DOES YOUR PRODUCER RELY ON OTHER ORGANISMS IN THE TUNDRA TO SURVIVE? Need rainwater to live Algae make food to feed lichen Need to attach to rocks, can’t attach to ground Lichen grow healthy, air quality is good

HOW DO OTHER ORGANISMS OF YOUR ECOSYSTEM RELY ON YOUR PRODUCER TO SURVIVE? Springtails (tiny insects) live inside Lichen Caribou and reindeer eat reindeer Lichen Artic Gulls and other birds eat Lichen

HOW DO HUMANS AFFECT YOUR ECOSYSTEM? Humans create air pollution from factories, homes, and cars burning oil that kills lichens Global warming is having an effect on Polar bears Footprints and tire tracks cause harm Pollution harms polar plants Buildings and vehicles burn coal and oil that is harmful

CHOOSE ONE BIOTIC OR ABIOTIC FACTOR IN YOUR ECOSYSTEM & DESCRIBE HOW A CHANGE IN ONE OF THESE COULD YOUR ECOSYSTEM. Change: Earth is getting warmer Ice breaking apart Polar bears spending more time on land They don’t eat much on land They risk starving Fish and seals would multiply The water would get crowded

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS: Some people use club moss branches to make holiday wreaths Some polar plants are healthy to eat and arctic summer berries are used to make jam Branch lichens are used in model train sets Large feet help animals walk on top like snowshoes

SOURCES USED Welch, Catherine A. Polar Plants. Mankato, MN: Capstone, Print Johansson, Philip. The Frozen Tundra. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers Inc., Print.