3. Abiotic Factors
• Long winters with temperatures that fall to below
56°C
• Short summers with temperature averaging 10°C
• Strong winds of more than 97 km/h
• Low precipitation of around 100cm annually
• Permafrost which melts only in summer, leaving
waterlogged soil
• Slow nutrient cycling
• Low evaporation rate
5. Producer
Adaptive features that enable it to fulfill its role in the food
chain:
-Spiky leaves
-Grows in large numbers
-Seeds are blown by the strong winds of the tundra
-Grows on the mountains where it is hard to reach
Adaptive features that enable it to survive the tundra:
-Dish-shaped flowers that direct heat to the plant
-Small thin leaves that minimize water and heat loss
-Spread-out roots with root hairs to absorb maximum water
-Dark green leaves to retain heat
-Ability to release heat to melt snow for water
A specimen of the species known as Acroflora
acantholipse, in full bloom.
6. Primary Consumer
Adaptive features that enable it to fulfill its role in the food chain:
-Sharp teeth to tear at plant for food
-Claws to climb mountains to reach plants
-Three eyes to watch for predators
-Fast and agile to escape predators
Frontal view of Mus Velox
Adaptive features that enable it to survive the tundra:
-Thick fur for retaining heat
-Small ears to minimize heat loss
-Padded feet to protect from cold
-Layer of blubber to shield from cold
Close-up of paw
Side view of Mus Velox
7. Secondary Consumer
Adaptive features that enable it to fulfill its role in the food
chain:
-Sharp talons to grab and hold on to prey
-Sharp beak to tear and rip at prey
-Good eyesight and echolocation to find prey
-Third eye for wider field of vision to locate prey
-Membrane wings for greater range of movement when hunting
A specimen of a 4-year-old Aves Vespertilio
Adaptive features that enable it to survive
the tundra:
-Thick coat of fur over body to trap heat
-Small ears to reduce heat loss
-Special blood flow in legs that reduce heat loss
by transferring heat around
-Layer of fat to insulate from cold as well as for
Aves Vespertilio’s third eye an energy source
The sharp talons The membrane located on the back of its
structure of the head
wings
8. Scavenger
Adaptive features that enable it to fulfill its role in the food
chain:
-Crab-like arms to bring food to its mouth
-Breed and gather in large numbers to decompose carcasses and
other dead matter
-Sharp teeth to consume dead matter
-Ensures an efficient nutrient cycle through its quick work
Frontal view of the insectum fortis
Adaptive features that enable it to survive the tundra:
-Generates its own heat
-Exoskeleton acts as an insulator
-Vacuum to make exoskeleton more effective at reducing the heat that
escapes.
-Legs are insulators which enable them to search for food even in extreme
temperatures
-Legs and arms can be withdrawn during sleep/rest to reduce the amount
of energy needed to generate heat
Underside view of the insectum fortis
9. Summary
• The producer provides its leaves as food for the
primary consumer, which is the prey for the
secondary consumer. When the producer, primary
consumer and secondary consumer die, the
scavenger clears the dead matter.
