TUNDRA

1. TUNDRA AMY LE&DEVONTE ANDERSON “In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes from Kildin Samitūndâr, which means ‘uplands, treeless mountain tract.’” there are two types of tundra: Arctic tundra (which also occurs in Antarctica) and alpine tundra.

2. <- Alpine Tundra Arctic Tundra ->

3. ARCTIC TUNDRA, THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS APLINE TUNDRA, THEPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS • Average temp. ranges from −28 °C (−18.4 °F), sometimes dipping as low as −50 °C (−58.0 °F) • Average temp. rises a little bit in the summer (12 °C {54 °F} but could drop to 3 °C {37 °F} or even below freezing), causing the top layer of the permafrost to melt making the ground very “soggy.” • During these warm months, the area is covered in lakes, bogs, marshes and streams. • Extremely windy, 48–97 km/h (30–60 mph) • Like a desert, the arctic tundra receives very little rain; 15–25 cm (6–10 inches) falling per year. Since it is impossible for trees to grow there, during the summer the permafrost thaws enough to allow shrubs to grow. • Lakes form during the summer for this reason. • Temperature: very cold, variety of locations, usually at an altitude of about 10,000 feet or more • Rainfall: less than 10 inches yearly (more than the arctic)most plants are small perennial groundcover plants which grow and reproduce slowly. • Animals adapt by hibernating, also they tend to have short legs, tails, and ears, in order to reproduce heat loss. • Animals also have larger lungs, more blood cells and hemoglobin because of the increase pressure and lack of oxygen at high altitudes

4. TYPES OF ORGANISMS&FOOD CHAINS • Over 1,700 species of plants and species inhabit this type of biome.Ex: caribou, musk ox, arctic hare, llamas, arctic fox, snowy owl, tundra bumble bees, lemmings and polar bears. Dense fur/feather {2 coats} is very common for the animals that live there. - The tundra bumble bee is technically “cold-blooded,” they form dense hair on their bodies to slow heat loss, and shiver (just us…what the eff?) - Certain plants have a waxy like exterior that enables them to be affected from the harsh winds. Their dense hair traps heat and stores it, like the greenhouse effect. Sometimes 20-30 Celsius above the normal temperature. • Dwarf trees -> marmots-> wolverines -> fungi • Lichens -> Elk -> Snow Leopards-> fungi • Tussock grasses -> mountain goats -> wolves KEYSTONE SPECIES- *Without the dwarf trees or the tussock grasses there would be no herbivores, carnivores, or decomposers.

5. TUNDRA FTW!

6. OM NOM NOM 

7. Signs to look out for!!! OHSHiz • -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. • Alpine tundra has a soil-bound carbon and it traps carbon dioxide (a green house gas), the land take in more carbon dioxide than it releases which is called a “carbon dioxide sink”. Carbon Dioxide contributes to global warming. • With the rise of temperatures and the melt of the ice, if the animals and plants that live there cannot adapt themselves to the climate change all species will die in time. • In the U.S., species of plants have been advancing upwards by some 30 meters each decade showing evidence that global warming is affecting a broad assortment of living things. Solutions???????!?!?!?!!?!?!? -Switch to alternative energy uses to minimize human-made global warming. -Establish protected areas and park reserves to restrict human influence. -Limit road construction, mining activities, and the building of pipelines in tundra habitat. -Limit tourism and respect local cultures.-1/3 of the world’s carbon is located in the taiga and tundra areas, so when it melts it releases into the form of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. (INFORMATION ABOVE WAS QUOTED FROM http://environment.nationalgeographic.co.in/environment/habitats/tundra-threats.html

8. TUNDRA!!!