TUNDRATUNDRANicole Sherpensky, Jasmine Nicole Sherpensky, Jasmine

Moore, Brooke Oliver, Meagan Moore, Brooke Oliver, Meagan Toole, Sarah Douglas, Andrea Toole, Sarah Douglas, Andrea

EamEam

Location (in N. America)Location (in N. America)

Found approximately 55° to 70° Found approximately 55° to 70° North latitudesNorth latitudes

Circles the North Pole and can be Circles the North Pole and can be found in Northern part of North found in Northern part of North AmericaAmerica

Covers about 20% of Earth’s surfaceCovers about 20% of Earth’s surface

Locations of the TundraLocations of the Tundra

Climatic ConditionsClimatic Conditions

Temperature rangeTemperature range– About -40°F to 55°FAbout -40°F to 55°F

Average annual temperatureAverage annual temperature– About -8°FAbout -8°F

Annually receives 6-10 inches of Annually receives 6-10 inches of precipitation, mostly in the form of precipitation, mostly in the form of snowsnow

SoilsSoils

Low in nutrients and mineralsLow in nutrients and minerals Essentially becomes Essentially becomes permafrost, permafrost,

where the soil is frozenwhere the soil is frozen– Absorption of the precipitation into the Absorption of the precipitation into the

ground causes little evaporation, thus, ground causes little evaporation, thus, creating permafrost creating permafrost PermafrostPermafrost: essentially frozen soil with a : essentially frozen soil with a

layer of frost topping itlayer of frost topping it Overall, the soil is poor, but thick as Overall, the soil is poor, but thick as

the permafrost continues to pile upthe permafrost continues to pile up

Dominant PlantsDominant Plants

Arctic mossArctic moss Bearberry shrubBearberry shrub Pasque flowerPasque flower Other PlantsOther Plants

– Labrador teaLabrador tea– Cushion plantsCushion plants– Dwarf willowDwarf willow

Arctic Moss

Pasque Flower

Bearberry Shrub

Plant AdaptationPlant Adaptation Grow low to the ground to protect from Grow low to the ground to protect from

harsh weatherharsh weather Some, like the cushion plants, grow in Some, like the cushion plants, grow in

clumps to protect from coldclumps to protect from cold Many are adapted to absorb greater Many are adapted to absorb greater

amounts of sunlight at one timeamounts of sunlight at one time Some are poisonous, like the Labrador Some are poisonous, like the Labrador

Tea, to keep predators awayTea, to keep predators away A dense amount of roots ensures growth in A dense amount of roots ensures growth in

the barren soilsthe barren soils

AnimalsAnimals

Arctic FoxArctic Fox Grey WolfGrey Wolf CaribouCaribou Polar BearPolar Bear Snowy OwlSnowy Owl Musk OxMusk Ox

Polar Bear

Arctic Fox

Musk Ox

Animal AdaptationsAnimal Adaptations Fur and layers are developed for warmthFur and layers are developed for warmth Appearance aides in camouflageAppearance aides in camouflage Arctic FoxArctic Fox

– Ears, legs and muzzle are short to conserve Ears, legs and muzzle are short to conserve heatheat

– Adapted to eat almost everythingAdapted to eat almost everything Polar bearPolar bear

– To conserve heat: has a thick layer of blubber, To conserve heat: has a thick layer of blubber, hollow shafts of hair, and short legs and earshollow shafts of hair, and short legs and ears

Hollow hairs reflect light allowing the bear to trap the Hollow hairs reflect light allowing the bear to trap the sun’s infrared heatsun’s infrared heat

Animal Adaptations cont’Animal Adaptations cont’

CaribouCaribou– Large spreading hooves are adapted to snowy Large spreading hooves are adapted to snowy

winters and marshy summerswinters and marshy summers– In very harsh weather, they can lower their In very harsh weather, they can lower their

metabolic rate and go into hibernationmetabolic rate and go into hibernation Musk OxMusk Ox

– Thick fur preserves warmthThick fur preserves warmth During winter, they grow thick undercoats of soft During winter, they grow thick undercoats of soft

fleece, along with thick overcoats of long straight hair fleece, along with thick overcoats of long straight hair that hangs to the groundthat hangs to the ground

– By May, they shed large amounts of their furBy May, they shed large amounts of their fur

Danger?Danger?

Direct human contact rare due to Direct human contact rare due to harsh conditionsharsh conditions

Pollution and Global Warming puts Pollution and Global Warming puts Tundra in danger zoneTundra in danger zone– Polar bears have become endangeredPolar bears have become endangered– Increases temperatures put the Increases temperatures put the

permafrost at risk of meltingpermafrost at risk of melting

Winter TundraWinter Tundra

Summer TundraSummer Tundra