Tundra
Advertisement. EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site. As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.Click here to learn more. (Already a member? Click here.) Tundra Animal Printouts The tundra is a cold, treeless area; it is the coldest biome. There are two types of tundras, Arctic tundras and alpine tundras. Arctic tundras are frozen, windy, desert-like plains in the Arctic that are dotted with bogs and ponds. Printable Activities:
Tundra
Tundras are among Earth's coldest, harshest biomes. Tundra ecosystems are treeless regions found in the Arctic and on the tops of mountains, where the climate is cold and windy and rainfall is scant. Tundra lands are snow-covered for much of the year, until summer brings a burst of wildflowers. Mountain goats, sheep, marmots, and birds live in mountain, or alpine, tundra and feed on the low-lying plants and insects. The Arctic tundra, where the average temperature is 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 to -6 degrees Celsius), supports a variety of animal species, including Arctic foxes, polar bears, gray wolves, caribou, snow geese and musk-oxen. The few plants and animals that live in the harsh conditions of the tundra are essentially clinging to life. The Arctic tundra is changing dramatically due to global warming. With global warming, the fall freeze comes later and more of the permafrost is melting in the southern Arctic.
The Tundra Biome
Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes. Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia, meaning treeless plain. It is noted for its frost-molded landscapes, extremely low temperatures, little precipitation, poor nutrients, and short growing seasons. Dead organic material functions as a nutrient pool. The two major nutrients are nitrogen and phosphorus. Characteristics of Tundra Extremely cold climate Low biotic diversity Simple vegetation structure Limitation of drainage Short season of growth and reproduction Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material Large population oscillations Arctic Arctic tundra is located in the northern hemisphere, encircling the north pole and extending south to the coniferous forests of the taiga. AlpineAlpine tundra is located on mountains throughout the world at high altitude where trees cannot grow.
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is type of biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands", "treeless mountain tract".[1] There are three types of tundra: arctic tundra,[2] alpine tundra,[2] and Antarctic tundra.[3] In tundra, the vegetation is composed of dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, mosses, and lichens. Scattered trees grow in some tundra regions. Arctic Tundra tends to be windy, with winds often blowing upwards of 50–100 km/h (30–60 mph). The biodiversity of tundra is low: 1,700 species of vascular plants and only 48 species of land mammals can be found, although millions of birds migrate there each year for the marshes.[5] There are also a few fish species. Due to the harsh climate of Arctic tundra, regions of this kind have seen little human activity, even though they are sometimes rich in natural resources such as oil and uranium. Antarctic Alpine
Tundra
Temperature -40°C to 18°C Precipitation 150 to 250 mm of rain per year Vegetation Almost no trees due to short growing season and permafrost; lichens, mosses, grasses, sedges, shrubs Location Regions south of the ice caps of the Arctic and extending across North America, Europe, and Siberia (high mountain tops) Other Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia, meaning "treeless plain"; it is the coldest of the biomes Example: Yakutsk, Russia Description The tundra is the coldest of the biomes. Tundra winters are long, dark, and cold, with mean temperatures below 0°C for six to 10 months of the year. Precipitation in the tundra totals 150 to 250 mm a year, including melted snow. Vegetation in the tundra has adapted to the cold and the short growing season. LinksTundra BiomeBiome Descriptions (Thurston High School, Springfield, OR)Tundra Description (via UC Berkeley)Cladina stellaris picture
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Tundra Animals
Brown bear › The brown bear can be found in the tundra regions of Alaska, Canada, and parts of Russia. In winter months, it digs a snug den in the ground and hibernates (a deep sleep). Brown bear › Reindeer › Reindeer have thick fur that protects them from the cold in the tundra region. Caribou › Mountain hare › The mountain hare grows a white coat in winter. Mountain hare › Canadian lynx › This small cat’s brown coat blends in well with the tundra landscape in summer. Small cats › Snow bunting › Few birds can survive the long, dark winters of tundra. Snow bunting › Arctic poppy › The Arctic poppy has tiny flowers that turn their heads to follow the sun. Flowering plants ›
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