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TUNDRA BIOME
- 1. TUNDRA Prepared by: Louie Jane T. Eleccion
- 2. OBJECTIVES 1. Define and describe the characteristics of a Tundra Biome. 2. Enumerate the types of Tundra and identify its origin and distribution across the globe. 3. Explain the soil profile of Tundra. 4. Characterize some plants’ and animals’ adaptations 5. Identify environmental threats that detriments the biome.
- 3. TUNDRA •Tundras are among Earth's coldest, harshest biomes.
- 4. TUNDRA • Tundra lands are snow-covered for much of the year which soils thaw to a depth of 0.5–1 m during the brief summer growing season.
- 5. TUNDRA • The word tundra is derived from a Finnish word "tunturi" which means "treeless plain".
- 6. Characteristics of Tundra • The region has extremely cold climate. • There is very low diversity. • The vegetation structure is simple. • The season of growth and reproduction is short. • The drainage here is limited. • The nutrients and the energy here is in the form of dead and organic material.
- 7. 3 Types of Tundra •Arctic Tundra •Antarctic Tundra •Alpine Tundra
- 8. ARCTIC TUNDRA • Arctic tundra is the world’s youngest biome. • It covers about 20% of the Earth's surface, circumnavigating the North pole.
- 9. ARCTIC TUNDRA (Cont.) • This is found in very cold regions of the northern hemisphere from Arctic Circle to North Pole. • Norway • Sweden • Finland • Russia • The United States (Alaska) • Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Navanut) • Denmark (Greenland) • Iceland
- 10. ANTARCTIC TUNDRA • It is very similar to Arctic except that it’s in the Southern Hemisphere (South pole). • Antarctica is mainly ice and very dry, so little land supports life.
- 12. ALPINE TUNDRA • Alpine tundra can be found anywhere on Earth and is dependent only on elevation. • Alpine Tundra can get covered by snow for a large portion of the year.
- 13. Alpine Glaciers in Alaska
- 14. Tundra Global Distribution (Cont.)
- 16. ORIGIN OF TUNDRA • Evolved over the last 1.5 million years, since Pleistocene glaciations have depressed global temperatures.
- 18. PERMAFROST
- 19. SOIL PROFILE OF TUNDRA • Tundra soils are formed at high latitudes. • It is generally frozen, and are classified as Gelisols—ACTIVE • Most gelisols are black or dark brown in soil color, followed by a shallow mineral layer.
- 21. PERMAFROST – FACTS and THREATS! • Permafrost contains large stores of organic carbon that have been locked in the permafrost for thousands of years. • As global temperatures rise, that permafrost is starting to melt, raising concerns about the impact on the climate as organic carbon becomes exposed.
- 22. THAWING OF THE PERMAFROST
- 23. According to researchers in the National Snow and Ice Data Center it is estimated, that by 2200, 6o% of the permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere will be probably melted. This imminent danger could mean, that around 190 billion tons of carbon could be released into the atmosphere. This number is probably half of all the carbon released in the industrial age. If this happens, the atmospheric warming could be irreversible (Miklusak, 2015). #ThawingPermafrostMatters
- 25. PLANTS
- 26. VEGETATION • There is barely any vegetation in the tundra, only about 1,700 different species. • The growing season is only about 50 to 60 days long. • The ground is always frozen beneath the top layer of soil, so trees can't send their roots down. • Evergreen leaves are common among tundra plants. • Other adaptations include sun-tracking flowers, an anti-freeze like compound, thick-waxy leaves and coverings.
- 27. VEGETATION • LICHENS – major primary producer • MOSSES • WILLOWS
- 28. WILLOWS • Found both in Arctic and Alpine Tundra. • Grows in acidic and calcareous soils. • Arctic Willow is a shrub that is well adapted to grow in harsh arctic conditions.
- 29. WILLOWS • Alpine Willow is a small bush has needle-shaped evergreen leaves and grows only in peat bogs, a vegetal ecosystem that is cold, humid humid and acid.
- 30. ANIMALS
- 32. ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS (Arctic Tundra) • INSULATING FUR (White fur/Hollow hairs/with Blubber) • SNOW BURROWER • HUDDLING • MIGRATION • HIBERNATION - Hares and Ground Squirrels - Polar Bears, Arctic Wolves and Musk Oxen - Hares, Ground Squirrels, Musk Oxen - Most of the animals in Arctic - Hares, Ground Squirrels, Musk Oxen
- 33. ANTARCTIC ANIMALS https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20 file/antarctica_animal.php
- 34. ANTARCTIC ANIMALS https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20 file/antarctica_animal.php
- 35. ANTARCTIC ANIMALS https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20 file/antarctica_animal.php
- 36. ANTARCTIC ANIMALS https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20 file/antarctica_animal.php
- 38. ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS (AlpineTundra) WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN •During the many cold snowy months, it has white feathers. •In late spring, it molts or loses its warm white winter winter feathers and grows speckled grayish-brown feathers. • Ptarmigans need to eat lots of seeds, flowers, plants, plants, and insects over the short summer to build up a up a new layer of fat for the next winter.
- 39. ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS (AlpineTundra) ELK or WAPPITI • One of the largest members of the deer family. • Elk can run really fast, up to 35 miles per hour. • In the fall (mating season), bull elk use their incredibly large large antlers to fight other bull (male elk) for cows (female (female elks). • The elk calls say, "I am here to the other bull elk and cow elk, elk, and I am strong and ready for a challenge."
- 40. ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS (AlpineTundra) ELK VELVET ANTLERS • Antlers grow at an incredible rate of speed, and therefore are considered the perfect renewable resource. • There is a fuzzy velvet on the outside of the new antlers that help them them grow. • Velvet the outside covering of the antler which is made of a blood filled collagenous matrix that forms the rapidly growing antler structure.
- 43. Other threats… • Animal Hunting • Plant Harvesting
- 44. SOURCES/LINKS: • TUNDRA. (Undated). TutorVista.com. Retrieved 26 August 2018 from https://biology.tutorvista.com/ecology/tundra.html • TUNDRA. (Undated). Nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved 26 August 2018 from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/tundra-biome/ • TUNDRA. (Undated). Earthobservatory.nasa.gov. Retrieved 26 August 2018 from https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/experiments/biome/biotundra.php • CHO, R. (11 January 2018). “Why Thawing Permafrost Matters.” Retrieved from https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2018/01/11/thawing-permafrost-matters/ • MIKLUSAK, M. (2 February 2015). “Permafrost – The Time Bomb That Could Kill Us.” Retrieved from http://www.techandfacts.com/permafrost-time-bomb-kill-us/ • POT, J. H. (24 April 2017). “Why Is Tundra So Important?” Retrieved from https://sciencing.com/tundra-important-5329435.html • WOODWARD, S. L. (2012). Biomes of the World. Retrieved 26 August 2018, from the Department of Geospatial Science, Radford University Web Site: https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=222
- 45. SOURCES/LINKS: • MORFORD, S. (5 December 2016). “When permafrost melts, what happens to all that stored carbon?” Retrieved from https://phys.org/news/2016-12-permafrost-carbon.html • O’DONNEL, J. (15 July 2013). “Tundra Animals: 6 Arctic Animals Perfectly Adapted For Life In The Cold” Retrieved from https://www.conservationinstitute.org/tundra-animals-6-arctic-animals- perfectly-adapted-for-life-in-the-cold/
Editor's Notes
- Extremely low temperatures, little precipitation, poor nutrients and short growing seasons are all factors which have contributed to this treeless landscape. Harshest – Precipitation is low, but because rates of evaporation are also low and because drainage is commonly poor, the ground is usually waterlogged and permanent ice occurs below a few centimeters of soil. Tundra ecosystems are treeless regions found in the Arctic and on the tops of mountains, where the climate is cold and windy and rainfall is scant, Precipitation is generally less, and often much less, than 60 cm.
- Extremely low temperatures, little precipitation, poor nutrients and short growing seasons are all factors which have contributed to this treeless landscape. Harshest – Precipitation is low, but because rates of evaporation are also low and because drainage is commonly poor, the ground is usually waterlogged and permanent ice occurs below a few centimeters of soil. Tundra ecosystems are treeless regions found in the Arctic and on the tops of mountains, where the climate is cold and windy and rainfall is scant, Precipitation is generally less, and often much less, than 60 cm.
- Temperature: Avg. during winter (-34 C); Avg. during summer (3-12 C) which enables the biome to sustain life. Diversity: There are about 1,700 kinds of plants in the arctic and subarctic, and these include: low shrubs, sedges, reindeer mosses, liverworts, and grasses, 400 varieties of flowers, crustose and foliose lichen. The fauna in the arctic is also diverse: Herbivorous mammals, Carnivorous mammals, Migratory birds, Insects, Fish. Vegetation Structure: Plants are short and group together to resist the cold temperatures and are protected by the snow during the winter. Growth Season: 6-10 weeks
- Alpine - Arctic – North Pole (Warmer) Antarctic – South Pole (coldest)
- Small tundra-like areas do exist in Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere, but because it is much colder than the Arctic, the ground is always covered with snow and ice.
- The land within the Arctic Circle is divided among 8 countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States (Alaska), Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), Denmark (Greenland) and Iceland (where it passes through the small offshore island of GrĂmsey).
- Antarctic Ice contains the world's largest source of fresh water
- The Alpine Tundra, while high in elevation, mirrors the Arctic Tundra in many ways. One of the most notable similarities is the tendency for the Alpine Tundra to get covered by snow for a large portion of the year.
- Found in places with High latitude (Arctic) and elevation (Alpine).
- Pleistocene is the period in Earth's history that we commonly refer to as the Ice Age. Through much of this period, the Earth's northern and southern regions were covered by kilometer thick glaciers. The Pleistocene started 2.6 million years ago and lasted until the termination of the Weichsel glaciation about 11,711 years ago.
- The most famous feature of the tundra is its permafrost, permanently frozen ground over more than 2 years with the temperature permanently under 0°C. While the surface layer of soil in the tundra does thaw during the summer, allowing plant and animal life to thrive, there is permanently frozen soil beneath this layer. This permafrost can vary in thickness from one to 1000 meters and consists mostly of gravel and finer material. This frozen ground has proven vital to tracking climate change through the centuries. WHY? Permafrost also contains almost twice as much carbon in the form of frozen organic matter as in today’s atmosphere. As the permafrost thaws, all the gases that have been stored inside will be released. This process already started in some parts of the world, like western Siberia.Â
- Gelisols—frozen soil that has permafrost near the soil surface (about 2 m)—active layer. Structurally, gelisols may have a B horizon and more commonly have an A horizon and/or O horizon resting on the permafrost. Chemically they are not highly fertile because nutrients, especially calcium and potassium, are very easily leached above the permafrost.
- O: his is a layer of organic matter that is about 2 inches thick and is made up of dead plant material such as leaves and twigs. A: his upper soil horizon is also called Topsoil. It is only between 5 to 10 inches thick and consists of organic matter and minerals. This is the soil layer where plants and organisms primarily live. B: This layer is also called Subsoil. It is mostly made of clay, iron minerals as well as organic matter, which has been washed down to this horizon by rainwater. C: The C horizon is the parent material from which the upper soil layers developed. It consists primarily of large rocks. R: This is the bedrock and is located several feet under the surface. The bedrock is made up of a solid mass of rock.
- Recent studies discovered, that the melting of active layer is getting larger every year.
- Any temperature change leaves its mark on the permafrost which alerted people to the rapid changes happening since the industrial revolution.
- These are mostly shrubs, sedges, mosses, lichens and grasses. Also, there are about 400 varieties of flowers. Evergreen (retains green leaves throughout the year) leaves are an adaptation to the short growing season, by having leaves already in place the plant can begin photosynthesis as soon as the sun comes out in the spring and the temperature is warm enough. Sun-tracking or Heliotropic – flowers that turn towards the sun Thick-waxy leaves - in plants that grow in very hot or very cold conditions, the epidermis may be several layers thick to protect against excessive water loss from transpiration. Hairl ike coverings -
- Lichens - Many lichens can be covered with ice for up to three years and still remain alive. Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between two organisms – an alga and a fungus. In winter caribou on the Arctic tundra would starve without lichens. They can smell lichen under the snow and dig to get to the plants. Small mammals use lichens to line their nests or burrows. Mosses are flowerless plants with very tiny leaves and no roots. Over 100 species of moss grow in the tundra. Many varieties are able to dry out and survive for years before beginning to grow again. They can continue photosynthesis and growth at much lower temperatures than flowering plants. Biologists refer to mosses as simple and primitive but their adaptations to survival in the tundra are advanced.
- Arctic Willows (Flowering takes place in June and July; with fruits ripening in August) -The Arctic Willow is a low-growing shrub that is well adapted to grow in harsh arctic conditions. Although seeds remain dormant in 30 days. -In fact, it is the only woody plant in the world that can grow well above the tree line. It usually grows flat along the ground and usually forms dense matted structures. -Arctic Willows (are dioecious) have male and female flowers located on separate plants, you can tell by the color of the catkins (flower clusters). Male catkins are yellow, while female catkins are red.
- Not many kinds of animals live year-round in the Arctic tundra. Most birds and mammals only use the tundra as a summer home (muskox, Arctic wolf, and brown bear). Animals need to find ways to stay warm and to provide nourishment for themselves in order to survive the long, cold, winter months.
- Emperor Penguins – Largest of all the penguins. the only large animal that remains in Antarctica in the depths of the long dark winter night. Its Large size retains heat. Huddle together in the winter to conserve heat. Unlike other penguin species, they are not aggressively territorial, Breed during the depths of the Antarctic winter A complex heat exchange system allows 80% of heat in the breath to be recaptured in the nasal passages. They can dive to a depth of 1,800 feet (550 meters) and hold their breath for up to 22 minutes, so are able to reach and exploit food resources that other birds can't reach - Males can make "milk" in the oesophagus which can be used to feed chicks in the winter before the female arrives back from fishing
- Adelie Penguins (Migratory) – Migrate north at the end of the brief summer. Arrive in the south early in the summer season, to take best advantage of the seasonal abundance of food. Muscle has large amounts of myoglobinto hold extra oxygen that is used up during a dive. - During a deep dive, the heart rate slows from 80-100 down to 20 beats per minute
- Wadell Seals: Seals keep open breathing holes in the ice by rasping back and forth with their teeth, so allowing them to live further south than any other mammal They can swim large distances between breathing holes and cracks, finding the next hole using a form of sonar with high pitched sounds. Weddell seals can dive for over an hour,though 20 minute dives are more common. They can dive to 600m. In autumn and early winter, openings in the ice start freezing over, so the seals create breathing holes. This makes seals very vulnerable. When there's no open water nearby, they have no choice but to stick their heads up through the little holes.
- birds’ feathers provide a lot of insulation. They fluff their feathers to trap air between their feathers and bodies. The result is a natural layer of insulation, like a down sleeping bag. Also, when they sleep or rest, the birds tuck their bills under their wing feathers in order to breathe in this warmer air. While a few birds, such as the willow ptarmigan, have feathers on their feet to help keep warm, many birds have naked feet. A countercurrent blood exchange in the feet helps keep the heat loss to a minimum while preventing frostbite. A bird might also tuck one foot up under its feathers, balancing on only one leg!
- Mountain Goat, Caribou, Pika, CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, Marmots
- Only the white-tailed ptarmigan will make the alpine and subalpine life zone its home for most of the year. It grows warm white feathers around its legs and feet. The birds will hide under the snow from the cold wintery weather. The layers of snow and warm feathers help keep the ptarmigan alive. It also uses its layers of fat that were put on during the summer for warmth and energy in the cold wintery months. 3. The new feathers can camouflage or hide the birds so well in the rocks and the ptarmigans can stay so still that hikers may almost step on the birds before they even know the birds are there.
- They may get 5 to 6 feet tall at the shoulders, 7 to 9 feet long, and male bull elk may weigh up to 1000 pounds. They have strong hooves and can quickly climb the steep mountains. -Elk are social animals and live in herds. The herd is usually dominated by one strong male elk, called a bull, with lots of female elk, called cows. -Bull elk will make loud bugling and grunting sounds that will carry for many miles away. Once the rut or fall mating season is over, elk will move down to the montane and foothills life zones to avoid the deep mountain snow. -In spring time, the elk return to the high subalpine and alpine life zones.
- horns stay on the animal for their entire life and antlers are shed and grown new each year. -Antlers are naturally shed. And each year the elk will lose their antlers in the spring and grow a new set of antlers. -In the summer the velvet dies and the antlers become hard and strong. Elk will keep their antlers over winter and shed them in the spring again. When gold, silver, and other minerals were discovered high in the mountains, thousands of people became miners and created mountain boom towns.
- Global warming – the increase of the earth’s average temperature due to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Climate change – refers to long term changes in climate, including avg. temperature and precipitation.