tundra ecosystem

1. Ecosystem

2. Etymology
Finnish word “tunturia”
Treeless plain
Russian word “tundar”
Treeless mountain tract
Uplands
Tundra ecosystems are treeless regions found in Arctic and on the
tops of mountains , where the climate is cold and windy and rainfall is
scant . Tundra lands are covered with snow for much of the year but
summer brings bursts of wildflowers.

3. Where it is located?
Arctic tundra ;
northern hemisphere
World’s north pole
North America, Alaska, Canada,
USA, Mexico
 Northern Europe- Finland
,Norway ,Russia & Sweden
20% earth surface
Extremely cold
One of the world’s least populous
area

5. Alpine tundra
On mountain tops
 Above an elevation called tree line
…trees
can not grow on mountains
High elevation plateau
Gets plenty of sunlight and
precipitations

6. Abiotic factors
Permafrost
Climate
temperature
Strong and cold wind
A small amount of precipitation
A little amount of sunlight
Pools of water on the surface in summar

7. The world’s ice desert; tundra biome
Coldest of all the biomes
Annual average temperature less than 5℃
Precipitation (mostly In the form of snow)<100mm/year
Due to extremely cold temperatures, the layer just below the
Surface remains frozen….”permafrost”

8. Temperature & wind
 Wind gusts of around 30-60mph
 Arctic tundra temperature
 Winter ; 34℃(-30℉)
 Summer; 3-12℃(37-54℉)
 Highest parts of arctic tundra in winter can have -
28℃
 Growing season is 50-60 days/year
 Alpine tundra; strong winds cause fluctuation in
temp.
 In warmer days alters 12 t0 -10℃
 Growing season is about 180 days

9. Climate
Extreme cold temperature defines
its climate
Dry conditions similar to a frozen
desert
Winter ….. Period of weeks without
sunlight
Summer … sunshines leading to the
survival of life

11. precipitation
Extreme cold temperature → less precipitation
Rainfall-wise…..similar to desert in yearly amount
Arctic tundra;
 receives 15-25cm(6 to 10 inches)
 Including both rainfall/snowfall and melting snow and
ice
Alpine tundra,
 receives little more precipitation of around 30cm
(almost 12 inches)

14. Biotic factors
Animals called as fauna
Plants called as flora

15. Plants
 17,00 different species
 Reindeer moss
 Crowberry
 Heath
 Liverwort
 Tussock grass
 Willows grows as a low carpet cover in
some areas
 Lichens
 Dwarf trees, including small birches

16. Plant
adaptations
 No deep roots
 Lowers plants and shrubs are much mire common
 Don’t require deep roots
 Can change easier with cold and summer season
 Plants grow closer to each other
 In order to give warmth in such a cold environment
 Asexual reproduction
 In order to overcome issues due to lack of pollinating insects and
birds

17. Animals
48 spp. of mammals
Main type of animals feed on plants
Some feed on animals
Fishes
Birds
And insects

18. Herbivores
• Voles
• Lemmings
• Squirrels
• Arctic hare
• Snowshoe rabbits
• Caribou/reindeer
• Musk oxen
• Mountain gaots

19. Carnivores
• Wolves
• Wolverines
• Arctic foxes
• Polar bear

20. Fish
• Salmon
• Cod
• Trout
• Flat fish

21. Insects
• Mosquitoes
• Flies
• Grasshoppers
• Moths
• Arctic bumble bees
• beetles

22. Birds
• Falcons
• Ravens
• Loons
• Sandpipers
• Terns
• Gulls
• Snow buntings
• Harlequin duck

25. Threats