The Tundra Biome

The Tundra Biome

Northern Most Land Biome

The Tundra Biome- AbioticColdest Biome on EarthLess than ten inches of Rain each YearSoil is permanently frozen- Permafrost

Soil is Nutrient- poorSummer Season is under 10 degrees FahrenheitWinter Season averages –30 degrees Fahrenheit

Strong Winds- make temperatures very cold and low diversity of life

Cotton Grass Field in Tundra

Plant Life

Artic Moss

Lichen

Artic Willow

Cotton Grass

Plant Adaptations

Most of the plants are small, grow close together and close to the ground. This protects them from the cold temperatures and the strong winds

Some flowering plants have fuzzy coverings on the stems, leaves and buds to provide protection from the wind. Some have woolly seed covers.

Other Plant AdaptationsOthers are dark colored so the plants can absorb more solar heat.

Only the top layer of soil thaws out so plants have shallow roots.

Small leaves help the plants retain moisture.

Lichen and some mosses can survive on bare rock

Plant Life

Artic Moss

Lichen

Artic Willow

Cotton Grass

Animals

Artic Fox

Caribou

Polar BearMusk Ox

Snowy Owl

Animal Adaptations

Long Thick Fur

Migration- Caribou, birds, and others

Short Legs- (Many Rodents in the Tundra)

Small activity during the winter

Camouflage- Artic fox and snowy owl

Store up food

Large amounts of Fat to stay warm

Underground Tunnels- Under Snow to stay warm

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/images/taiga/taiga_500.jpg

Coniferous Forest- Abiotic Factors

Long cold winters, short mild summers.

Moderate amount of Rainfall

Frozen Soil for several months keeps plants from getting water.

Artic Winds create temperatures that stay under 50 degrees for most of the year.

Plant life in the Coniferous Forest- Biotic Factors

Conifer–ous Forest- “Cone –bearing plants”

Plants include- Pines, evergreens, spruce, etc. Adaptations-

Cone shape of tree and long thin needles prevent snow accumulation Don’t lose leaves and have to grow new ones (use less energy)Less rainfall than the deciduous forest- long thin needles means less surface area to lose waterThick Bark that conserves water loss.

Picture taken by Ms. B

http://www.ourbc.com/travel_bc/bc_cities/yellowhead_hwy/photos/terrace/cedar_tree_01_640.jpg

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2008/01/08-15/redwood-forest.jpg

http://sprucetreesforsale.com/williams_spruce_trees001005.jpg

AnimalsBlack Bears, Wolves, Foxes, Eagles, Bobcats

Adaptations: ?

Animals

Black Bears, Wolves, Foxes, Eagles, Bobcats

Adaptations:

Thick fur

Hibernation

Birds migrate where food is more available and climate is warmer.

Store up food during warmer seasons

http://www.wildabouttheworld.com/gallery/data/505/Brown-Bear.jpg

http://www.lindaslearninglinks.com/beavers3.jpg

http://www.smouse.force9.co.uk/fa_elk.jpg

Tundra

Taiga

Amount of Precipitation

Tundra

Taiga

Yearly Temperatures

in Celsius.

Succession in Ecosystems

I. Succession-

a series of changes in a community in which new populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones

A. Primary succession-

colonization of new sites by communities of organisms – takes place on bare rock

Primary succession-

New bare rock comes from 2 sources:

1. volcanic lava flow cools and forms rock

Primary succession-

New bare rock comes from 2 sources:

2. Glaciers retreat and expose rock

B. Pioneer organisms-

the first organisms to colonize a new site

Ex: lichens are the first to colonize lava rocks

Primary Succession-

Rock

C. Climax community-

a stable, mature community that undergoes little or no succession

Climax community-

Ex: In most of Georgia, the climax community would be a deciduous forest (oak, elm, maple and hickory

                                                                                                                                

Primary succession-

Secondary succession-

sequence of community changes that takes place when a community is disrupted by natural disaster or human actions – takes place on existing soil

Secondary succession-

Ex: A fire levels portions of a forest

Secondary succession-

Ex: A farmer plows his field

Secondary succession-

Secondary succession-

Pond Succession

Pond Succession