Isn't it time to play a bit? Each group will have to create a Kahoot on the tundra biome to test the others' knowledge. Ready? Go!
The tundra is found around the North Pole. It is very cold, even in the summer. The word tundra comes from a Finnish word that means treeless plain. The average winter temperature is –30º F and it can reach -50°F (-45.5°C), while in the summer the average temperature is between 37º F and 54º F. It has very little rainfall, less than 10 inches per year (on average). In addition to low temperature and rainfall, the tundra has a very short growing season (about 50 - 60 days). Outside of this limited growing season, plants generally lie dormant in the snow. Because many tundra animals are migratory, the biome's population is constantly changing. Another condition found in the arctic tundra, is the presence of permafrost. Permafrost is a layer of earth, about a meter from the soil surface, which never thaws.
PLANTS: You would think that plants would never live or survive in this biome, but the answer is quite a surprise. There is low diversity in organisms that live here, but many still flourish. Many lichens, mosses, and small shrubs flourish in the arctic tundra. These plants usually adapt to the weather by being short and grouped together to resist winds and to be protected. Tundra plants get their energy from the sun through photosynthesis like all other plants, but have adapted to low temperatures and low light intensities. Compared to plants in other biomes they use a minimal amount of energy.
ANIMALS: You may think that the tundra is too chilly for animals, but guess what - it’s not. There are actually animals that live in this harsh biome! You might find lemmings, caribou, and arctic hares in the tundra. These animals seem pretty nice, but can you guess which the largest and most dangerous animal is that lives in the tundra? THE POLAR BEAR. Polar bears love to eat fresh, fatty meat. Fatty foods might not be good for humans, but polar bears need the energy from fat to survive the cold tundra. Seals, at times walrus, and sometimes even belugas trapped in open water pockets surrounded by ice are some of the polar bear’s favorite meals. They will also eat berries and eggs in the summer. Polar bears hunt by the power of scent and can smell their food at 20 miles (32 km) away. The stomach of an adult polar bear is so big that it can hold more than 150 pounds (68 kilos) of food! Other predators of the tundra are arctic foxes and wolves. Some migratory birds also live in the tundra during part of the year.
Animals who live in the tundra have special adaptations to survive.
Cold----In order for an animal to survive in the tundra they have to be able to withstand the extreme cold for the majority of the year. Many of the animals have compact bodies and shortened extremities (tails, ears, bills, wings and limbs) to conserve heat and minimize heat loss. For example, foxes found in other biomes are known for their large ears. Not the arctic fox, however, it has short, close ears to keep heat from escaping. Some tundra animals have a layer of fat or blubber to insulate their bodies and keep them warm. Other animals have dense layers of fur or feathers to stay warm. Small animals often burrow in the snow to escape harsh winds. Believe it or not, the snow acts as an insulator, trapping heat coming up from the ground! Many animals hibernate, or sleep during the worst part of winter to minimize energy loss.
Camouflage---In order to hide from predators, the fur on many animals turns white during the winter. This allows them to blend in with the snowy background. This also allows predators to blend in the background when hunting their prey.
Stability and Mobility---Large, wide feet are also found on many tundra animals, particularly those that travel over long distances like caribou. This adaptation helps keep the animal from sinking in the snow.
Offspring---Tundra animals usually have their babies in the warmest months when there is a lotof food and nice weather. The young grow up quickly so that they are prepared for the quick approaching winter months.
Food---Since much of the year is cold and unproductive (little vegetation), some animals have adapted to a scarce food supply by leaving the tundra and going south to the taiga (or beyond) where they will find a better supply of food. Some animals hibernate during the harshest months and live off of the fat that accumulated during the warmer months. During hibernation most of the animal's physiological processes (like breathing and heart rate)
slow down so that they expend very little energy.
Sources:
http://cmse.olemiss.edu/files/2011/11/animals.pdf
http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/tundra.html
PLANTS: You would think that plants would never live or survive in this biome, but the answer is quite a surprise. There is low diversity in organisms that live here, but many still flourish. Many lichens, mosses, and small shrubs flourish in the arctic tundra. These plants usually adapt to the weather by being short and grouped together to resist winds and to be protected. Tundra plants get their energy from the sun through photosynthesis like all other plants, but have adapted to low temperatures and low light intensities. Compared to plants in other biomes they use a minimal amount of energy.
ANIMALS: You may think that the tundra is too chilly for animals, but guess what - it’s not. There are actually animals that live in this harsh biome! You might find lemmings, caribou, and arctic hares in the tundra. These animals seem pretty nice, but can you guess which the largest and most dangerous animal is that lives in the tundra? THE POLAR BEAR. Polar bears love to eat fresh, fatty meat. Fatty foods might not be good for humans, but polar bears need the energy from fat to survive the cold tundra. Seals, at times walrus, and sometimes even belugas trapped in open water pockets surrounded by ice are some of the polar bear’s favorite meals. They will also eat berries and eggs in the summer. Polar bears hunt by the power of scent and can smell their food at 20 miles (32 km) away. The stomach of an adult polar bear is so big that it can hold more than 150 pounds (68 kilos) of food! Other predators of the tundra are arctic foxes and wolves. Some migratory birds also live in the tundra during part of the year.
Animals who live in the tundra have special adaptations to survive.
Cold----In order for an animal to survive in the tundra they have to be able to withstand the extreme cold for the majority of the year. Many of the animals have compact bodies and shortened extremities (tails, ears, bills, wings and limbs) to conserve heat and minimize heat loss. For example, foxes found in other biomes are known for their large ears. Not the arctic fox, however, it has short, close ears to keep heat from escaping. Some tundra animals have a layer of fat or blubber to insulate their bodies and keep them warm. Other animals have dense layers of fur or feathers to stay warm. Small animals often burrow in the snow to escape harsh winds. Believe it or not, the snow acts as an insulator, trapping heat coming up from the ground! Many animals hibernate, or sleep during the worst part of winter to minimize energy loss.
Camouflage---In order to hide from predators, the fur on many animals turns white during the winter. This allows them to blend in with the snowy background. This also allows predators to blend in the background when hunting their prey.
Stability and Mobility---Large, wide feet are also found on many tundra animals, particularly those that travel over long distances like caribou. This adaptation helps keep the animal from sinking in the snow.
Offspring---Tundra animals usually have their babies in the warmest months when there is a lotof food and nice weather. The young grow up quickly so that they are prepared for the quick approaching winter months.
Food---Since much of the year is cold and unproductive (little vegetation), some animals have adapted to a scarce food supply by leaving the tundra and going south to the taiga (or beyond) where they will find a better supply of food. Some animals hibernate during the harshest months and live off of the fat that accumulated during the warmer months. During hibernation most of the animal's physiological processes (like breathing and heart rate)
slow down so that they expend very little energy.
Sources:
http://cmse.olemiss.edu/files/2011/11/animals.pdf
http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/tundra.html