Tundra Biome

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TUNDRA BIOME

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TundraTundra

TUNDRA is an area where the tree growth TUNDRA is an area where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term short growing seasons. The term "tundra" comes from Kildin Sami "tundra" comes from Kildin Sami tūndârtūndâr 'uplands, tundra, treeless mountain 'uplands, tundra, treeless mountain tract'. The vegetation is composed of tract'. The vegetation is composed of dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, mosses, and lichens. Scattered trees mosses, and lichens. Scattered trees grow in some tundra. The ecotone (or grow in some tundra. The ecotone (or ecological boundary region) between ecological boundary region) between the tundra and the forest is known as the tundra and the forest is known as the the tree line or timberlinetree line or timberline..

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TYPES OF TUNDRATYPES OF TUNDRA

11.. Arctic TundraArctic Tundra (also occurs in (also occurs in Antarctica) Antarctica)

a.a. The The Arctic tundraArctic tundra

b.b. The The Antarctic tundraAntarctic tundra

2.2. Alpine TundraAlpine Tundra

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1. Arctic Tundra1. Arctic Tundra

A.A. The The Arctic tundraArctic tundra is a vast area of stark is a vast area of stark landscape, which is frozen for much of the landscape, which is frozen for much of the year. The soil there is frozen from 25-90 cm year. The soil there is frozen from 25-90 cm down, and it is impossible for trees to grow. down, and it is impossible for trees to grow.

During the summer, temperatures rise During the summer, temperatures rise somewhat, and the top layer of the permafrost somewhat, and the top layer of the permafrost melts, leaving the ground very soggy. The melts, leaving the ground very soggy. The tundra is covered in marshes, lakes, bogs and tundra is covered in marshes, lakes, bogs and streams during the warm months. Generally streams during the warm months. Generally daytime temperatures during the summer rise daytime temperatures during the summer rise to about 12 °C but can often drop to 3 °C or to about 12 °C but can often drop to 3 °C or even below freezing. even below freezing.

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BB.. Antarctic tundraAntarctic tundra occurs on occurs on Antarctica and on several Antarctic Antarctica and on several Antarctic and subantarctic island. Antarctica is and subantarctic island. Antarctica is mostly too cold and dry to support mostly too cold and dry to support vegetation, and most of the vegetation, and most of the continent is covered by ice fields. continent is covered by ice fields.

In contrast with the Arctic In contrast with the Arctic tundra, the Antarctic tundra lacks a tundra, the Antarctic tundra lacks a large mammal fauna, mostly due to large mammal fauna, mostly due to its physical isolation from the other its physical isolation from the other continents. continents.

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2. ALPINE TUNDRA2. ALPINE TUNDRA Alpine tundraAlpine tundra is an ecozone that does is an ecozone that does

not contain trees because it has high not contain trees because it has high altitude.. Alpine tundra also lacks trees, altitude.. Alpine tundra also lacks trees, but the lower part does not have but the lower part does not have permafrost, and alpine soils are generally permafrost, and alpine soils are generally better drained than permafrost soils. better drained than permafrost soils.

Because alpine tundra is located in various Because alpine tundra is located in various widely-separated regions of the Earth, widely-separated regions of the Earth, there is no animal species common to all there is no animal species common to all areas of alpine tundra. Some animals of areas of alpine tundra. Some animals of alpine tundra environments include the alpine tundra environments include the Kea parrot, marmot, Mountain goats, Kea parrot, marmot, Mountain goats, chinchilla, and pika.chinchilla, and pika.

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Arctic TundraArctic Tundra

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Antarctic TundraAntarctic Tundra

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Alpine TundraAlpine Tundra

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CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Extremely cold climate Extremely cold climate

Low biotic diversity Low biotic diversity

Simple vegetation structure Simple vegetation structure

Limitation of drainage Limitation of drainage

Short season of growth and Short season of growth and reproduction reproduction

Energy and nutrients in the form of Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material dead organic material

Large population oscillationsLarge population oscillations

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CLIMATE AND CLIMATE AND LAND FORMATIONLAND FORMATION

The surface soil, which tends to be rocky, The surface soil, which tends to be rocky, thaws in summer to varying depths. The thaws in summer to varying depths. The combination of frozen ground and flat combination of frozen ground and flat terrain on the tundra impedes the drainage terrain on the tundra impedes the drainage of water.of water.

Tundra climate is characterized by harsh Tundra climate is characterized by harsh winters, low average temperatures, little winters, low average temperatures, little snow or rainfall, and a short summer snow or rainfall, and a short summer season. The arctic tundra, in particular, is season. The arctic tundra, in particular, is influenced by permafrost, a layer of influenced by permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen subsoil in the ground. permanently frozen subsoil in the ground.

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PLANT LIFEPLANT LIFE The number of plant species on the The number of plant species on the

tundra is few, and their growth is low, tundra is few, and their growth is low, with most of the biomass concentrated in with most of the biomass concentrated in the roots. the roots.

Typical arctic vegetation comprises Typical arctic vegetation comprises cotton grass, sedge, and dwarf heath, cotton grass, sedge, and dwarf heath, together with associated mosses and together with associated mosses and lichens. lichens.

Alpine plant communities consist of mat-Alpine plant communities consist of mat-forming and cushion-forming plants, rare forming and cushion-forming plants, rare in the Arctic. These plants are adapted to in the Arctic. These plants are adapted to gusting winds, heavy snows, and widely gusting winds, heavy snows, and widely fluctuating temperatures.fluctuating temperatures.

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Plant LifePlant Life

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Animal LifeAnimal Life Arctic wildlife is circumpolar; the same or

closely related species are found around the world. Musk-ox, caribou, and reindeer are the dominant large grazers, feeding on grass, sedge, lichen, and willow. Arctic hare, or snowshoe rabbit, and lemming feed on grass and sedge.

Predators include the wolf, arctic fox, and snowy owl. Polar bears, and sometimes brown bears, are seen. Many birds nest in the tundra shrubbery in summer, migrating to milder climates before the winter season sets in.

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Tundra AnimalsTundra Animals

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TUNDRA VIDEOTUNDRA VIDEO

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Project in Project in Integrated ScienceIntegrated Science

I – rubyI – ruby

PHILIP CAESAR FLORESPHILIP CAESAR FLORES

DUSTIN DWIGTH DOCTOLERODUSTIN DWIGTH DOCTOLERO

GREGG ANGELO PEREZGREGG ANGELO PEREZ

ERIKA SHEANE ESTERAERIKA SHEANE ESTERA

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