TUNDRA Land of the midnight sun.

LOCATION  Tundra is located near the north pole at the top of the earth.  Covers 1/5 th of the earth.

PRECIPITATION  The climate in the tundra is similar to tropical deserts  Tundras are dry places and get around 6-10 in. of rainfall annually  Melting snow makes the ground soggy despite the dry nature of the biome.

TEMPERATURE  The summers are only around 6 weeks long and the temperature often doesn’t reach above 50 degrees  The winters are the longest season of the month and temperatures are -20 degrees on average but can get as low as -40.

AMOUNT OF LIGHT  Tundra is often called “Land of the midnight sun”  In the winter (for as long as 2 months) the sun doesn’t reach above the horizon whereas in the summer, the sun is out for 24 hours a day  This is due to the geographic location of the tundra

AIR QUALITY/ SALINITY  Salinity in the tundra is VERY LOW  The pollution added to the air in the tundra recently has caused the infections of lichens, a vital food to many organisms living in the tundra

NUTRIENT LEVEL  Low nutrient levels for the tundra  This is because the moisture and low temperatures are hard to decompose  The soil is very weak as well  Any nutrients aren’t in forms needed for consummation from producers and class one heterotrophs etc.

COMMON SPECIES (VEGITATION)  Arctic Willow  Bearberry  Pasque flower  Caribou moss

COMMON SPECIES (ANIMAL)  Arctic Fox  Snowy owl  Polar bear  Musk Ox

ENDANGERED SPECIES (VEGETATION)  Aleutian Wormwood  Sessile-Leaved Scurvy-Grass  Bering Sea Douglasia

ENDANGERED SPECIES (ANIMALS)  Arctic Fox  Caribou  Polar bear  Musk ox

MAN’S INFLUENCE (CAUSE AND EFFECT) The melting of the permafrost as a result of global warming could radically change the landscape and what species are able to live there. Ozone depletion at the North and South Poles means stronger ultraviolet rays that will harm the tundra. Air pollution can cause smog clouds that contaminate lichen, a significant food source for many animals. Exploration of oil, gas, and minerals and construction of pipelines and roads can cause physical disturbances and habitat fragmentation. Oil spills can kill wildlife and significantly damage tundra ecosystems. Buildings and roads put heat and pressure on the permafrost, causing it to melt. Invasive species push aside native vegetation and reduce diversity of plant cover.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.         The melting of the permafrost as a result of global warming could radically change the landscape and what species are able to live there.  Ozone depletion at the North and South Poles means stronger ultraviolet rays that will harm the tundra.  Air pollution can cause smog clouds that contaminate lichen, a significant food source for many animals.  Exploration of oil, gas, and minerals and construction of pipelines and roads can cause physical disturbances and habitat fragmentation.  Oil spills can kill wildlife and significantly damage tundra ecosystems.  Buildings and roads put heat and pressure on the permafrost, causing it to melt.  Invasive species push aside native vegetation and reduce diversity of plant cover. .