Tundra & Coniferous Biomes....
Arctic Tundra...
Arctic Tundra Biome....
- • 60° N latitude and above
- • Influenced by polar cells
Alpine Tundra Biome....
•Located in mountainous areas, above tree line with well- drained soil
Arctic Tundra
- • Frozen, treeless plains
- • Low rainfall
- • Little humus in soil, few
nutrients due to low vegetation & little decomposition
• Growing season lasts ~2 months
Arctic Tundra
- • Soil has few nutrients due to low vegetation & little decomposition
- • Permafrost is permanently frozen ground & barrier for roots
Antarctica...
- • Area surrounding the south pole
- • Rainfall less than 2 inches (5 cm) per year
- • Considered to be a desert!
Tundra Flora Adaptations...
- • Polar grassland plants are adapted to grow in:
- • Low sunlight
- • Low amounts of free water
• High winds & low temperatures
• Primarily summer months
Tundra Flora Adaptations...
- • Leaves on plants have a waxy outer coating
- • Many plants survive winter as roots, stems, bulbs or tubers
• Lichens dehyrdrate during winter to avoid frost damage
Tundra Fauna Adaptations...
- • Have extra layers of fat
- • Chemicals in the blood keep it from freezing
- • Have compact bodies to conserve heat (Marmot)
Tundra Fauna
Marmots....Extra fat, Thick Skin, Thick Fur
Tundra Fauna Adapta5ons...
•Have thick skin, thick fur
•waterproof feathers above downy insulating feathers (penguins)
Tundra Migrations
Fauna Adaptations...
•Animals migrate during coldest months (birds/killer whales)
-or-
•Live underground (lemmings)
Biomes...Grasslands to Tundra
(Taiga) Coniferous Biome
Coniferous Forests...
- • More precipitation than tundra
- • Soil poor in nutrients, acidic due to decomposition of needles
- • Acidic soil prevents competing species from surviving
Tundra & Taiga Food Chain
Coniferous Flora...
- • Dense stands of small trees cause understory to be low in light
- • Small, waxy-coated needles adapted to withstand cold & drought of winter; low surface area reduces transpiration
- • Fires & insect infestations can affect flora!
(Taiga) Coniferous Biome...
- • Usually found between 45 & 60° N latitude
- • Occupies ~17% of land surface
- • Forests of cold climates of high altitudes & latitudes
- • Could be open woodland & dense forest
Rock Creek Lake, Eastern Sierras
Notice the U-shaped Valley
(Taiga) Coniferous Fauna...
•Low biodiversity due to harshness of the environment
Adaption of one lemming