This document summarizes the key characteristics of tundra biomes. It describes the two main types of tundra - Arctic and alpine - and notes their locations, climate conditions like temperature and precipitation, growing seasons, plant and animal life, and examples of ecological relationships like food webs, parasitism, commensalism and mutualism. The passage concludes by explaining that human activities like climate change, hunting, pollution and development are negatively impacting tundra habitats and could ultimately lead to the destruction of the tundra biome if not addressed.

1. Tundra
Amber
AP Biology
Due: 5-28-2014

2. Characteristics
• The Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes.
• Known for frost molded landscapes, extremely low
temperatures, poor nutrients, little precipitation, and short
growing seasons.
• Dead organic material is where the nutrients come from.
• Nitrogen and phosphorus are two main nutrients.
• Two types: Arctic and Alpine

3. Arctic Tundra
• Located in Northern Hemisphere near the North Pole.
• Noted for cold, desert-like conditions.
• Growing season 50-60 days.
• Average Winter temperature: -34 degrees C, average summer temperature: 3-12 degrees C,
enabling life to be sustained.
• Rainfall varies throughout the Arctic.
• Precipitation ranges from 6-10 inches yearly, including melting snow.
• Permafrost exists, a permanently frozen subsoil that is made mostly of gravel and finer
material; soil forms slowly.
• When water hits the surface, bogs and ponds form, giving moisture to the plants.
• NO DEEP ROOT SYSTEM in plants, but over 1700 types of plants including: low shrubs, grasses,
400 varieties of flowers, lichen, etc.
• Plants are adapted to sweeping winds and soil disturbances. Plants group together to resist
temperatures and carry out photosynthesis at low intensities and temperatures.

4. Alpine Tundra
• Located in mountains throughout the world at high altitudes
where trees are not able to grow.
• Growing season: 180 days
• Nighttime temperature is well below freezing.
• However, soil is very well drained, unlike the Arctic.
• Plants are similar and include: grasses, shrubs, heaths, etc.

5. Animals
• Arctic: Herbivores- lemming, voles, caribou; all primary
consumers.
• Carnivores: Foxes, wolves, polar bears; all secondary-
tertiary consumers.
• Birds- ravens, falcons, loons, terns; all secondary-tertiary
consumers.
• Alpine: pikas, marmots, mountain goats, sheep, elk
• Birds: grouse like birds

6. Example Food Web
Arctic Wolves
Caribou Arctic Foxes
LemmingsPikasHares
MossLichens Grasses Liverworts
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7. Symbiotic Relationships
• Parasitism: Tapeworms are common in Moose, Caribou, and
Wolves.
• Commensalism: Caribou and Foxes. The Caribou removes
the snow to get to covered lichens under the soil. The fox
follows and hunts animals that have been unearthed.
• Mutualism: Lichen is a relationship between fungi and algae.
The fungi are fed sugars by alga and alga uses fungi for
protection.

8. Human Interaction
• The Tundra Biome is so delicate that any small change can
put it in danger. Rising temperatures due to global warming
are causing glaciers to melt resulting in floods that kill
plants and species. Hunting has also put many species in
danger. The local wildlife and habitat are now affected by
pollution and developments, that will eventually lead to the
destruction of the Tundra, if nothing is done.

10. Works Cited
• "Google Images." Google Images. Google, n.d. Web. 23 Apr.
2014.
• "Symbiosis." The Tundra. Weebly, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
• "The Tundra Biome." The Tundra Biome. UCMP, n.d. Web. 23
Apr. 2014.
• "What Is the Human Impact on the Tundra?" Ask.com. Ask,
n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.