Tundra
Tundra is a type of physical geography biome that is characterized by extremely cold temperatures and short growing seasons. Trees cannot grow well in this region, which is why the term comes from the Sámi word тндар, which means treeless uplands. There are a few types of tundra, including Arctic, Antarctic, and Marshy tundra.
Arctic tundra
The Arctic tundra is a harsh and arid biome that is found in Canada, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. This region is also inhabited by a large number of animals. These animals have unique adaptations to survive the extreme cold. Some, such as the arctic fox, have very small ears to prevent heat loss during the winter.
The Arctic tundra is a rich source of food and habitat for many animals. It is home to about 1,700 species of vascular plants and 48 species of land mammals. Millions of birds migrate to the tundra in search of food and water. There are only a few species of fish found here. Some notable plants and animals in the tundra include the blueberry and the musk ox. Other animals include the Arctic hare, ptarmigan, snow owl, northern red-backed vole, and arctic fox. Insects such as mosquitoes and gnats can also be found in the tundra.
Antarctic tundra
Antarctica is a large continent with a diverse array of plant life and animals. The ice-covered tundra feeds many types of plants and animals, including krill. Some fish and copepods also live in this icy environment, and a large variety of birds migrate through the region every year. Other animals living in the tundra include foxes, lemmings, and owls. Wolves and killer whales are among the top predators, and seals feed on fish.
The Antarctic tundra is less extensive than the Arctic tundra, and is only found on the Antarctic Peninsula and a few of its islands. Its rocky soil supports very little plant life, though some species of marine mammals live in the coastal areas. Because of this harsh environment, scientists have built research stations to study the environment on these remote islands. Most of the Antarctic wildlife lives in and around the sea, and it's impossible for humans to survive in Antarctica.
Marshy tundra
Marshy tundra is a type of arctic rangeland with a treeless plain and a high proportion of lichens and mosses. This region is permanently frozen, and its vegetation consists of plants with many different adaptations for the harsh environment. Most species are wind-dispersed and have low-growing stems and leaves.
The tundra's cool winters and long, arctic summers produce cold, wet soil, which results in soggy marshes and bogs. The deeper parts of the soil, called permafrost, remain frozen throughout the year, keeping the water there frozen and holding it in. Because of this, water can't drain away and forms a shallow marsh.
Permafrost
Scientists have noted that the permafrost in tundra ecosystems has been melting for several decades now, releasing carbon that had been trapped in the frozen soils. This is a process that increases the level of greenhouse gases and adds to global warming. Consequently, a positive feedback warming cycle can occur, releasing even more carbon into the atmosphere.
The progression of the frost table is controlled not only by climate on a large scale but also by a number of micro-scale variables, including topography, snow depth, and vegetation type. In general, higher air temperatures promote a deeper and more uniform permafrost thaw.
Insects
While the tundra may be cold and barren, it's also home to many insect species. These creatures include dragonflies, moths, bumblebees, and mosquitoes. Some of these creatures have even developed the ability to survive as larvae in frozen temperatures. Their dark colors and rapid movement generate heat, allowing them to survive even when temperatures drop below zero.
The numbers of these tundra insects varied significantly, but no single species showed a clear preference for a specific habitat. Only three families of arthropods showed clear seasonal variation, namely the Tipulidae, Nematocera, and parasitic Hymenoptera. Overall, this pattern was less pronounced than for other arthropod families.
Climate change
Climate change is affecting tundra ecosystems in many ways, including changes in snow cover. The study's findings provide insights into how snow cover impacts nutrient inputs, the food web, and the distribution of geese. It also contributes to the mechanistic understanding of how climate change affects tundra ecosystems.
The study also showed that reindeer grazing patterns are important in understanding climate change in tundra ecosystems. They eat shrubs and grasses, and their presence alters the ecosystem's properties and response to climate warming. Researchers at the Academy of Finland published their findings in Nature Climate Change.
Ecology
The Ecology of tundra is the study of vegetation communities and their interactions with other aspects of the Arctic ecosystem. Changing vegetation conditions can alter the dynamics of carbon, water and energy cycles, permafrost stability and surface wetness. These changes can also affect the habitat conditions for wildlife.
The tundra ecosystem is unique among ecosystems in that it is found at low elevations, where the environmental conditions are severely cold. It is characterized by little to no rainfall and often is devoid of trees. Although the climate is cold, daytime temperatures allow the growth of plants.
