Tundra Biome: Definitions

Key Definitions

• The tree line marks the upper limit of tree growth.
• Lichen is a plant that grows in crusty patches on tree trunks or rocks.
• Sedge refers to a grassy plant commonly found in tundra vegetation that grows in wet areas.
• Highland is elevated land, such as mountainous regions.
• Physical geography is the study of the earth's surface's physical features.
• Tundra is a vast treeless plain with permanently frozen subsoil.
• Tundra is a biome where tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons.
• Temperature is the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment.
• Ecological describes interdependence of living organisms.
• Alpine relates to or is characteristic of high mountains.
• A biome is a major ecological community with a distinct climate and flora.
• Vegetation is the process of growth in plants.
• The Arctic refers to the regions north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole.
• Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in a habitat.
• Physical involves the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit.

Global Biomes

• Biomes are classifications of plants and animals primarily determined by climate (temperature and rainfall).
• Broad categories include tundra, deserts, grassland, forest, freshwater, and marine.
• Biota refers to the plant and animal life of a specific region or period.
• A new map defining biomes and 8 biogeographic realms was created
• The map was broken down into 867 ecoregions, including info on species, particularly vertebrates and endemic species.
• David Olson led the creation of the new map.

Alpine Tundra Biome

• It features cold temperatures, short growing seasons, and high elevations.
• Harsh conditions, including strong solar radiation and limited water availability, influence vegetation and animal life.
• Vegetation is adapted to freezing temperatures, strong winds, and limited nutrients.
• Soil is typically thin, rocky, and nutrient-poor.

Unique Species and Their Adaptations

Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

• Possess thick fur for warmth and specialized hooves for traction.
• Muscular build enables climbing and leaping.
• They feed on tough plants and shed their coats in warmer months.

Pika (Ochotona princeps)

• Small mammals dwelling in high-altitude, rocky areas.
• Dense fur provides insulation.
• They collect plants for winter storage.
• They are agile climbers, using rocks for shelter, communicate with high-pitched calls, sensitive to temperature, and thrive in cool environments.

Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura)

• Small bird adapted to cold, mountainous regions.
• Plumage changes color for camouflage.
• They feed on plants and berries.

Rocky Mountain Tundra Specific Species

Frosted Tundra Rose (Dasiphora fruticosa)

• A hardy shrub with yellow flowers and evergreen leaves survives in cold, rocky alpine tundra environments.

Arctic Willow (Salix arctica)

• A low-growing shrub in the cold, Arctic tundra.
• Small, narrow leaves enable survival in extreme cold and windy conditions.

Dwarf Willow (Salix herbacea)

• A small shrub that thrives in the cold, windy Arctic and alpine tundra.
• It grows in compact clumps.
• Provides ground cover in harsh environments.

Impact of Climate Change

• Global warming causes shifts in the Alpine Tundra
• Subalpine trees are migrating upslope.
• Snowpack shrinks
• Drier soils occur.
• Plants and animals from lower elevations can invade the tundra
• Puts pressure on native species.

Taiga Biome in Nova Scotia, Canada

• Cape Breton Highlands lies at the northern edge of the temperate broadleaf forest and mixed forest biome.
• Vegetation transitions into the Taiga biome, where conifers are the predominant trees.

Unique Species and Their Adaptations

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

• An evergreen species has adapted features of conifer trees: large needles that shed during winter.
• Adapted to the Taiga's cold and dry climate, scarcity of water, and long winters.

Eastern Larch (Larix laricina)

• Large needles are shed during winter.
• It is a deciduous conifer adapted to the biome's harsh cold climate, the frozen waters, and the long lasting winters.

Fen Habitat in Cape Breton Highlands

• Cape Breton has high plateaus, and the interior of the plateaus are boggy, containing a fen.
• A fen is a kind of wetland that has a layer of peat built up continuously by sphagnum moss and rushes.

Species

Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)

• The leaves have sticky hairs that trap insects.
• Leaves release digestive enzymes and then take up the dissolved nitrogen compounds.

Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea)

• The leaves turn into pitchers that can collect water.
• Leaves trap insects, which drown in the water.
• The plant consumes the dead insect for food.

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

• Migrates across North America to make up for the scarcity of food in the fen.

Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

• They eat and gather food during the summer so they can hibernate during the winter season.

The Australian Outback near Alice Springs

• A remote, arid region known for its red desert landscapes, unique rock formations, and rich Indigenous culture.
• Key landmarks include Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon.
• The area experiences extreme temperatures.
• It's home to diverse wildlife, including kangaroos, dingoes, and reptiles.
• Alice Springs serves as the main gateway to exploring this rugged and historic land.

Species

Desert Oak (Allocasuarina decaisneana)

• Deep taproot system accesses underground water sources.
• Needle-like leaves minimize water loss.
• Waxy coating on the leaves helps conserve moisture.

Spinifex Grass (Triodia spp.)

• Deep roots locate underground water.
• Needle-like leaves conserve water.
• The waxy coating prevents water from escaping.

Mulga Wattle (Acacia aneura)

• Leaves are stems, large, flat structures called phyllodes
• Helps with erosion control.

Native Frogs

• Ephemeral rain pools collect at the base of Uluru
• Provides a place for several native frogs to live and breed.

Marsupials (Wallabies and Red Kangaroos)

• They give birth to immature young and then carry them round in a pouch.
• Nocturnal activity avoids heat during the day.
• Red kangaroos sweat while moving and pant when exercising stops.

Dingo (Canis lupus dingo)

• Good hunters work alone or in packs to find food.
• Don't need to drink often, get water from their food.
• Big paws help them run on hot ground.
• Night workers stay cool by being active at night.
• Eat anything which helps them survive.

The Florida Everglades "River of Grass" in Everglades National Park

• A subtropical wetland ecosystem spanning two million acres across central and south Florida.

Unique Species and Their Adaptations

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

• Strong jaws, armored skin, a powerful tail for swimming, and webbed feet move the alligator efficiently in water.
• Excellent night vision, nostrils and ears on top of its snout for breathing and hearing while submerged, and sensitive skin detects vibrations in water.
• An ambush predator, basks in the sun to regulate body temperature, and can enter dormancy in cold weather.

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

• Long, slender body and neck for swimming and catching fish; sharp, pointed bill spears prey.
• Often swims with only its neck and head above water to hunt, using its body for stealth.
• They have excellent vision for spotting fish underwater.

Sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense)

• Sharp Leaves: The plant's leaves have serrated edges, which can easily cause skin irritation if touched, earning it the common name "sawgrass."
• Wetland Habitat: Sawgrass is commonly found in wetlands, marshes, and along rivers, and plays a key role in stabilizing the soil and providing shelter for wildlife.
• Height: Sawgrass can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall, forming dense stands that are an iconic feature.

Periphyton

• Complex mixture of algae, cyanobacteria, heterotrophic microbes, and detritus attached to submerged surfaces.
• Sticky Biofilm - Helps attach to surfaces.
• Efficient Nutrient Absorption - Takes in nutrients from water.
• Nitrogen Fixation - Some have bacteria for survival in low-nutrient areas.
• Tolerance to Drying - Forms protective layers to survive dry periods.
• Light Adaptation - Adjusts to different light levels for photosynthesis.

Southern California Kelp Forests

• Kelp forests are composed of rapidly growing large brown algae.
• This productive habitat supports a wide variety of fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals forming the basis for a rich ecosystem

Species

Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera)

• One of the fastest growing species in the world
• They are adapted to withstand the turbid water that pulls at them all the time.
• The holdfast is massive, and the stripes thin and elastic.
• Stretches and relaxes as each wave rolls by.

Giant Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus)

• Marine invertebrates included in the family of Echinodermata
• They feed on broken blades and can destroy the forest when dense aggregations of urchins swarm across the seabed.
• They climb onto the holdfast and chew on through the narrow bases of the stripes, setting the fronds adrift and creating an "urchin barrens."
• Protected by their spines
• Prey for several species.

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

• Native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean.
• They were hunted nearly to extinction
• Due to its high quality fur.
• Easily adapt in water due to their webbed feet
• Their diet consists of a large amount of sea urchins in the kelp forest to decrease any further destruction of the kelp forest.

Various Fish Species

• Mobile animals in the canopy and kelp beds are usually prime sport fishing places.
• Have color patterns to blend in with their environment to avoid being seen by predators.
• Fish have gills to breathe underwater, which exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen on both sides of their pharynx.

Epiphytes and Filter Feeders

• Aquatic mammals that acquire nutrients by feeding on organic matter
• Sessile animals attached animals, especially filter feeders, make good use of the vast surface area.
• obtain water from rain and water vapor in the air; most absorb water with their roots, though many have specialized leaves that also take in moisture