What is the tundra
The tundra is the coldest biome on the planet, characterized by having areas of flat land with little vegetation, a subglacial climate, frozen subsoils, and the absence of trees and vegetation. Its name derives from Finnish tunturiwhich translates as “treeless plain.”
Tundras are located in the polar and high altitude areas. They occupy about a tenth of the planet’s landmass and make up ecosystems that are very sensitive to environmental changes caused by global warming.
In the northern hemisphere they are found in Siberia, northern Canada, Alaska, the European Arctic coast and south of Greenland. In the southern hemisphere they are located in the extreme south of Argentina, Chile, in the subantarctic islands and in some areas of northern Antarctica that are close to sea level.
The tundra ecosystem is typical of high-altitude geographic areas found in different continental regions.
The climate is cold, dry and with little rain. Most of the year the soils are covered with snow or frozen and are poor in nutrients, so its vegetation and fauna are scarce.
Tundra Features
Alpine tundra in which the cloudiness typical of some of these biomes can be seen.
The climate in the tundra is very cold, temperatures do not usually exceed 0º C and can be extreme. The soils are not very fertile due to the scarce rainfall and the small amount of decomposed organic elements and nutrients in the earth. Tundra soils contain the largest amount of carbon in the world, when the ice melts, this is released in the form of carbon dioxide. The landscapes are desert-like, generally covered by a layer of ice and snow. During the summer season The soils become swampy due to the thaw. The winds are strong and very cold. It lacks flora and fauna. The low temperatures and extreme conditions prevent carbon dioxide gases from being released and contaminating. Two phenomena occur in the tundras, the polar night and the midnight sun.
Flora
Flowers and certain plants and fungi appear during the brief summer season and serve as food for animals.
The flora and vegetation in the tundras are scarce as a result of the climatic conditions and the lack of rain. The soils lack nutrients, so they are not very fertile, although they are well drained up to the permafrost zone. The growth and development of flora varies depending on the altitude of the tundra.
The absence of trees is also appreciated because their roots cannot take root in the frozen ground and because the strong winds do not allow them to grow.
Only small plants with a height of no more than ten centimeters grow, capable of withstanding such conditions. The most numerous plants are lichens, moss, grasses and herbs. Few manage to flower for a few days and are characterized by having quite colorful flowers.
In the tundras where there are lakes and rivers, cotton grasses, reeds, legumes, among others, can grow, because when they thaw, they form a swampy soil that allows the growth and development of these plants.
The flora and vegetation of the tundras has adapted in such a way that plants can generate flowers and seeds in the summers, favoring the development of shorter life cycles in these living beings.
Fauna
Mammals that live in tundras have fur and skin adapted to maintain body heat.
Animals in the tundra live in conditions of extreme temperature, lack of rain, vegetation and food.
They are characterized by being limited populations in terms of number and diversity of species that have different eating and migratory habits depending on the type of tundra where they live.
Some animals are lemmings, wolves, arctic foxes, polar bears, seals, fur seals, hares, reindeer, wild cats, falcons, caribou, seagulls, the snowy owl, even mountain goats.
Many of these animals survive thanks to the thick layers of fat they have under their skin to insulate against the cold. Additionally, some build tunnels in the ground or snow to protect themselves. For their part, birds are mostly migratory.
For example, lemmings are tundra-typical rodents that are constantly active. They live in caves under the snow where they feed on the roots of plants and reproduce. The accumulation of their feces nourishes the soil and encourages the growth of certain tundra plants.
If the lemming population increases in a season, so will the population of their predatory animals, but if it decreases, their predators will also be reduced due to lack of food.
Climate
Temperatures in the tundras vary depending on their altitude. Thermometers can read -32º C, or less, during the winter and, during the summer, 10º C, a time when many plants bloom, migratory birds arrive and you can see part of the fauna of this biome in search of food. and home.
The tundras found in coastal areas tend to be colder and have more fog.
On the other hand, precipitation in the tundra is scarce throughout the year and also varies depending on the altitude of the tundra. In some, snow storms accompanied by strong winds even occur.
Types of tundra
arctic tundra
They are located in the northern hemisphere and occupy an extensive territory in Canada, Alaska, coastal areas of Greenland, Siberia, Iceland and other areas of Eurasia and northern Scandinavia.
These tundras are characterized by having permafrost, which means that the ground is permanently frozen, although it is not necessarily covered by ice or snow.
In these tundras there are only two seasons. Very cold winters and short summers that allow the ground to thaw. Average temperatures are between -8°C and -60°C.
alpine tundra
These tundras are found in mountainous areas in many parts of the world. They cover about 3% of the Earth’s surface and are located mainly in the northern hemisphere.
In alpine tundras temperatures are very low and are usually below 0°C. In addition, the winds are very strong and prevent the growth of trees.
Unlike the Arctic tundra, it has soils covered by snow, but not frozen, so they are well drained and allow the growth of various plants.
Antarctic tundra
It is the least common type of tundra. It is found in the Antarctic regions, in British overseas territory, on the South Georgina and South Sandwich Islands. These tundras are very far from other territories, for this reason they lack flora and fauna.
See also: