Hayle Rowe Biology Ecosystems and Energy Flow Project

Tundra  Photos of tundra

Abiotic Factors  Strong Winds  little precipitaion (rainfall)  short summer days  very long and cold winters  poor soil  permafrost-a layer of permanently frozen subsoil

Biotic Factors  Biotic factors are:  Plants like Heaths and mosses have to adapt to the very long and cold winters because the sun does not come up in the winter  Wildlife like arctic tundra animals include snowy owls, reindeer, polar bears, white foxes, lemmings, arctic hares, wolverines, caribou, migrating birds, mosquitoes, and black flies.

Limiting Factors  Limiting Factors of Carrying Capacity That some of the animals that are herbivores Might fight for the plants

Adaptations  Adaptations of animals in Tundra- Animals that live in the tundra have special adaptations that allow them to survive the extreme temperatures and conditions that are present in a tundra.

Examples  A good example of an animal with special adaptations is the Arctic Fox. The Arctic Fox has short ears and a short, round body with a thick coat to minimize the amount of skin exposed to the frigid air.

Examples  Moose- Long legs and a thick body allow the moose to move through deep snow and wet areas without trouble  Their hair is wider at the tip than the base to make an insulating layer of warmth around them in the winter months.

Examples  Grizzly Bear-  Their skin is actually black, under their white fur, to help keep in the warmth from the sun. They have short but sharp claws, and pads on their feet to help them catch fish

Symbiotic Relationships  There are many examples of symbiotic relationships in the tundra. Liver tapeworm cysts live in animals such as moose, and feed on what the animal ate. Lichen is also an example, because it is made up of both a fungus and an algae, which benefit from each other.