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Biomes: Part 3 - Tundra

Biomes sub-categories continued

Tundra

Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes. The low temperatures affect the growth of trees and plants, and the type of animals that can live there. There are vast areas of tundra, found in three different parts of the world and each type of tundra is different:

  • Arctic tundra
  • Antarctic tundra
  • Alpine tundra.

Winter morning on the Arctic tundraArctic tundra

Arctic tundra circles the North Pole, at the top of the world.

Groups of indigenous people farm and hunt here, such as the Nenets people in Russia.

Boreal forestBoreal forest grows up to this tundra. The point where the two biomes meet is called the treeline.

Less than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain falls in the Arctic tundra each year, so it is like a cold desert.

Winter temperatures can be -50 degrees C (-58 F), rising in summer to about 10 degrees C (50 F). This is so cold that the ground is frozen all year round, except for a layer of gravelly soil on top where the ice melts in summer, making small pools, streams and bogs. The frozen subsoil is called permafrost.

Daylight and darkness are different near the North Pole than in other places. In winter there is darkness day and night from about December 21st to March. Then the sun appears, rising higher each day and setting at night, until about June 21st. Twenty-four hour daylight follows until September 21st, and then the sun gradually sinks into twilight, and winter darkness returns in December.

Polar Bear and Arctic tundra plantsBecause of these differences in daylight and darkness, growing seasons are short and animals and plants respond to variations in temperature rather than sunlight.

There are no tall trees because their roots cannot live in the permafrost, but there are small shrubs, mosses, lichens and other plants.

The Arctic tundra is home to the Polar Bear. Other animals living here include Ringed and Bearded Seals, Wolves, Arctic Foxes and Hares, Reindeer, Musk Ox, Squirrels, and Lemmings.

Birds include Snowy Owl, Ravens, Falcons and Gulls. There are also Grasshoppers, Moths, Mosquitoes, Bees and Flies and Cod, Flatfish, Salmon and Trout.

 

Tell me more about the Arctic and Polar Bears

Biomes: Part 4 - Tundra continued >>