PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Tundras are found in areas with no mountains, no valleys, no anything except for flat barren land and a piercingly cold wind.
The tundra biome is usually found in Northern Canada, Greenland, Northern Russia and Scandinavia.
The tundra has many abiotic factors such as cold temperature which makes thick coats useful for survival, poor soil, rocks and permafrost only lets plants with certain roots grow in the soil, and the many rocks make hoofed feet useful.
Arctic moss, caribou moss and lichens are the primary producers and bring energy into the ecosystem. Then caribou and arctic hare keep the population of producers in check and provide food for secondary and tertiary consumers like snowy owls, arctic foxes, polar bears and wolves.
Density independent: Cold weather, permafrost, wind and short days.
Density dependent: Amount of available food and population of certain species.
Producers: Arctic moss, lichens, arctic willow, tufted saxifrage, caribou moss and Labrador tea flowers.
Consumers: Caribou, arctic hare, snowy owl, seals, polar bears, grizzly bears and wolves.
Wolves and Caribou: Wolves will try to hunt caribou for food, but the caribous' speed and antlers can keep it safe.
Polar bears and Arctic Foxes: Polar bears hunt arctic foxes but because of the foxes small size and agility they can sometimes escape.
Polar Bears- Polar bears are in danger of extinction due to the climate change that is melting their habitat. Biologists estimate there are only 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears left.
Primary Succession: The tundra is to harsh and cold that lichens almost always need to be the first things to arrive. Then other shrubs and small wooded plants move in. Next herbivores like antelope with migrate there. Lastly arctic foxes and other carnivores will make their way there.
Poaching, oil drilling and global warming, which is destroying the environment, and just a few of the negative effects humans are having on the tundra. One biogeochemical cycle is the permafrost carbon cycle, which instead of microbes breaking down the dead matter and releasing it, it is frozen and taken out of the cycle.
The future of the tundra is not bright if global warming and over hunting continues then the animals of the tundra will either need to adapt or they will die off.
Tunathlon: Located in the tundra this challenge is a triathlon like no other. First is backpacking across the barren landscape for 11 miles with limited food and water. Then you will be resupplied and have to cross country ski for an additional 6 miles. Lastly a bob sled race for the final 12 miles.
