Icecap Biome

• Where are icecaps found?• At the north and south poles• Arctic, Antarctica, Greenland

Temp. and Precipitation

Description:• Cold weather year round• Permanent ice Average Temperature:• -50 to 10 °F (-45 to -12 °C)• Coldest temperature ever recorded: -129 °F (-89 °C)Average Precipitation• 6.5 inches per year• Considered a “polar desert”

Weather Patterns

• Windy: causes the temperature to drop even further

• Cyclone storms• Below 0 °F year round

Plants

• No plants live in this biome• Adaptations: no plant can survive these

conditions

Phytoplankton

• Photosynthesizing single celled organisms

• Producers for this biome

Animals

• Killer whale• Polar Bears• Harbor Seals• Walrus• Albatross• Emperor Penguins

Animal Adaptations

• Fur• Layer of fat for insulation• Large paws for walking on snow• Swimming • Can stay underwater • Warm-blooded• Hibernation• Camouflage• Flight

Humans?

• Humans do not live here but there are scientific research centers

Biodiversity Rating

• Biodiversity rating is 1 because there are so few species that live here

• Least biodiversity of all biomes

Abiotic Factors

• Cold temperature• Sunlight or lack of sunlight• Water• Ice

Food Chain

• Phytoplankton– Zooplankton• Herring– Penguin» Killer whale

Other Interesting Facts

• They have to cut through the ice with special ships to get the researchers where they need to go

• The ice sheets grow and shrink every year with the seasons

Other Interesting Facts• During the summer

months, there is only 2-3 hours of darkness

• During the winter months, there is only 2-3 hours of daylight

Other Interesting Facts

• Fossils of tropical plants and animals are found in Antarctica

• For $10,000 you can go on a cruise to Antarctica