What is tundra: characteristics, types, flora and fauna
You may have heard of something called “tundra” before, whether in a movie, TV series, or documentary. But what is tundra? You’ve certainly already experienced this it’s a very icy biome, usually covered with snow and with little vegetation. Despite how desolate it may seem, we can learn a lot about it.
In this article we will explain what tundra is, what types there are and what its flora and fauna are like. These seemingly empty and lifeless plains, it houses a very resistant and intriguing ecosystem, It is able to withstand extremely low temperatures. If this topic interests you, don’t hesitate and read on.
What is tundra and its features?
Let’s start by explaining what tundra is and what its features are. It is a terrestrial ecosystem. The eastern biome is one of the coldest on the face of the earth. It is therefore not surprising that its name literally translates as: “treeless plain”. Many people call this biome the “polar desert”. The main features of the tundra are:
- Very icy weather.
- Low rainfall.
- Robust winds.
- Low diversity at the biological level.
- The soil is quite indigent in terms of nutrients.
Compared to other ecosystems and biomes, tundras remain relatively unknown to this day. Due to its geographical location, far from people and arduous access, both due to weather conditions and terrain, These are areas that have not been fully explored.
These territories occur in polar regions and at high latitudes, its main location is the northern hemisphere. In addition, tundras include regions such as Iceland, Siberia, Alaska, the highlands between Argentina and Chile, various subantarctic islands, the southernmost part of Greenland, northern Antarctica, northern Canada, and northern Europe, including Scandinavia and Russia. It should be noted that there is also tundra on the peaks, due to frosty weather, forceful wind and delicate rainfall.
Climate
Since tundras are usually located close to the poles and at high altitudes, it is not surprising that for most of the year, i.e. six to ten months, the temperature there remains below zero degrees. Generally, winters in these biomes are obscure, long, parched and very icy. Temperatures may drop to minus 70°C in some areas. While it is true that the surface is usually snow-covered most of the year, during the summer there may be a few delicate precipitations, yes, in the form of snow.
In the most extreme areas of the tundra, the average temperature ranges from 6°C to -12°C. However, temperatures of up to ten degrees can occur on mountain peaks and in high zones. Of course, they will drop below zero degrees again at night.
Types of tundra
Depending on the regions or areas where tundra occurs, we can divide them into three groups:
- arctic tundra
- alpine tundra
- Antarctic tundra
Below we will discuss these three types of biomes in more detail.
arctic tundra
First we have the Arctic tundra. It is located in the Northern Hemisphere, just beneath the notable Arctic ice caps. The expansion of this region occupies the entire inhospitable territory, up to the borders of coniferous forests, which are already part of another biome called taiga. On a map, Arctic tundra would cover much of Alaska and half of Canada.
It should be noted that iMost of this territory is covered with “permafrost”. This is a layer of ground that is permanently frozen. If the surface is saturated with water, ponds and peat bogs may form. This way the plants can get some moisture.
As for vegetation, it does not have a deep root system. However, yes, we can find a wide range of cold-resistant vegetables, e.g. grasses, liverworts, sedges, mosses, low shrubs, etc.
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The animals inhabiting these territories are adapted to withstand very icy and long winters. In addition, they have the ability to breed and reproduce very quickly in the summer. It should be noted that mammals and birds living in the Arctic tundra often have additional fatty insulation. Because food is insufficient in winter, many animals hibernate and others migrate south, especially birds. As for amphibians and reptiles, they are very few or completely absent in these regions precisely because of the extremely low temperatures. Due to the constant emigration and immigration that exists in this type of tundra, the population is constantly changing.
alpine tundra
When we talk about alpine tundra, we refer to those found in mountains, regardless of their location on Earth. We usually find it at high altitudes above sea level, where vegetation is limited and no trees of any kind grow. Typically, the growing season usually lasts about 180 days. At night, temperatures often drop below freezing. One feature that distinguishes it from the Arctic tundra is that the soil is well drained.
The vegetation found in the alpine tundra is very similar to that of the Arctic. This includes small-leafed shrubs and heaths, herbs such as grasses and dwarf trees. The fauna of these regions is very well adapted to the prevailing conditions. We can meet various mammals such as mountain goats, marmots and sheep. Some birds with particularly cold-resistant fur and some insects, such as butterflies, grasshoppers and beetles, also inhabit this type of tundra.
Antarctic tundra
As for the Antarctic tundra, It is one of the rarest ecosystems, but not non-existent. It can be found on some of the Kerguelen Islands, the South Sandwich Islands and the South Georgia Islands, the latter two of which are part of the UK.
What is the flora and fauna of the tundra?
If we consider the climate in the tundra, the most normal thing in the world is that animals have evolved and adapted to low and harsh temperatures. They have a very bulky layer of fat under their skin, while the coat is usually bulky and long. To camouflage themselves better, some are usually white, which makes it easier for them to hide in the snow and escape from predators.
Among the animals of the tundra best known we can find the following information:
- different species of birds
- oxygen mask
- Polar bears
- caribou
- Reindeer
- Wolves
- Hares
- arctic foxes
- Jastrzębie
- Sea lions (near the sea or on coastlines)
- Different types of seals (near the sea or on the coasts)
Because there is more food in the Arctic tundra, we can also meet a greater variety of animals there than in the alpine tundra.
Flora
Considering that the tundra is basically a layer of snow and ice that covers most of the soil, forest and land, it may seem like there is no vegetation there, but there is. Since the growing season is usually miniature, the plants are usually miniature and inconspicuous. They have adapted quite well to this type of terrain thanks to their hairy stems and their ability to flower and grow quickly in such a miniature summer.
As we mentioned earlier, such low temperatures do not allow trees to grow, but tiny plants do. There are as many as 400 different species of flowering plants in the tundra. Of course, it should be noted that they are quite scattered throughout the territory. This is due to the weather conditions in this place and low rainfall. In addition, the lack of decaying organic matter, which ultimately provides plants with nutrients to the soil, is also of great importance. Some of the most popular vegetables in these parts are:
- lichens
- Cotton plant
- MAK
- berry plants
- Dwarf Fire Grass
- dwarf willow
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In total, there are about 1,700 different species of plants, including liverworts and grasses. In summer, tundras are often flooded with miniature alpine flowers, and the landscape turns green with an abundance of mosses, sedges, heaths, dwarf shrubs, lichens and grasses. These are generally tiny vegetables that tolerate forceful winds better than other plants and can protect themselves from snowfall by growing between rocks.
Well, it looks like we’ve gathered a lot of information about what tundra is. As you can see, even the most inhospitable landscapes are home to life, and lots of it!