TUNDRA Land of the midnight sun LOCATION v

TUNDRA Land of the midnight sun.

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

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

TEMPERATURE v The summers are only around 6 weeks long and the temperature often doesn’t reach above 50 degrees v 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 v Tundra is often called “Land of the midnight sun” v 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 v This is due to the geographic location of the tundra

AIR QUALITY/ SALINITY v Salinity in the tundra is VERY LOW v 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 v Low nutrient levels for the tundra v This is because the moisture and low temperatures are hard to decompose v The soil is very weak as well v Any nutrients aren’t in forms needed for consummation from producers and class one heterotrophs etc.

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

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

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

ENDANGERED SPECIES (ANIMALS) v Arctic Fox v Caribou v Polar bear v 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 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. v http: //www. mbgnet. net/sets/tundra/where. htm v http: //www. ehow. com/about_6367532_precipitation-tundra. html v http: //www. blueplanetbiomes. org/tundra_climate. htm v http: //apassionforscience. pbworks. com/w/page/37237512/1 E 1_2011%20 Group%209%20 -%20 Arctic%20 Tundra v http: //microbewiki. kenyon. edu/index. php/Alaskan_tundra v http: //www. blueplanetbiomes. org/tundra_plant_page. htm v http: //www. animalport. com/endangered-animals/tundra. html v • The melting of the permafrost as a result of global warming could radically change the landscape and what species are able to live there. v • Ozone depletion at the North and South Poles means stronger ultraviolet rays that will harm the tundra. v • Air pollution cause smog clouds that contaminate lichen, a significant food source for many animals. v • Exploration of oil, gas, and minerals and construction of pipelines and roads can cause physical disturbances and habitat fragmentation. v • Oil spills can kill wildlife and significantly damage tundra ecosystems. v • Buildings and roads put heat and pressure on the permafrost, causing it to melt. v • Invasive species push aside native vegetation and reduce diversity of plant cover. v .