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
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