The Location of the Arctic Tundra and how it Affects its Climate
The location of this biome region affects its climate because it is far north from the equator. The further north or south you get from the equatore, the colder it becomes. The precipitation levels also go down along with the temperature. Both of these factors create a climate that is very harsh that makes it difficult for some species of plants and animals to live in.
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For further information on this topic visit our meteorologist/geographer page.
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Human Influence - Food Chain
Humans have a huge part in the food chain of almost every biome. When it comes to the Arctic tundra, global warming, pollution, hunting, gas/oil productuon, and mining play a huge role in the food chain. The Arctic tundra is home to some of the most prominant gas deposits. This makes it a mining treasure chest, attracting people from all over the world. In order to mine properly, they had to dig holes, make fires, and industrialize natural habitats that majorly disrupted the surrounding wildlife. They also installed underground pipelines to retreive the oil and gas, which obviously didn't improve the environment what so ever. In addition to the mining disruptions, pollution such as garbage and smoky air damaged the ecosystem. Global warming is propably the most destructive issue, which is killing more and more animals every single day. With the warming of the environment, the ice is melting at rapid rates which makes these wildlife residents even more vulnerable.
Occurring Adaptations and the Beneficial Changes
The arctic tundra is full of plants and animals that have adaptations, because it is such an extreme environment. Survival is not easy in the tundra, especially with the cold winds and temperatures that can drop below -30℃.
Most animals have structural adaptions such as very thick fur and skin, which absorbs the sunlight for warmth. Small ears is another adaptation which helps retain heat. The hair and pads on their feet help insulate their bodies and create traction for ice.
Common physiological adaptations are maintaining a certain body temperature, like the arctic ground squirrel which can also slow its heartrate down to keep warm. Other animals have paws that are lower than their body temperature to reduce heat loss from these extremeties, an example is the arctic wolf.
Another type of adaption is behavioural adaptations, many animals live in groups and some huddle together to stay warm. Hibernation is also an example, as animals make den's and sleep through the coldest winter months.
Many plants have adaptations to the cold environment as well. Most plants have structural adaptations, such as silky hairs or smaller leaves.
Behavioural adaptations in plants like growing shorter roots and flowers that follow the sun also help them to survive.
Special physiological adaptations for instance, a plants ability to absorb more water is also beneficial.
All of these adaptations have occured due to natural selection. Over hundreds of years these plants have changed drastically, due to several small changes. The small changes were likely mutations in a gene of one plant or animal, but they have spread through entire populations, The mutated animal, or plants would have benefitted from the mutation, and so they would have survived longer. Once they reproduce, the offspring will also survive longer, thus allowing them to reproduce as well, wheras many of the other non-mutated ones would have died earlier. As years pass by this mutation can spread through the entire population. These adaptations have benefitted the plants and animals because they are now better suited to their environment, which is very cold. They are able to stay warmer, and reproduce earlier which increases survival rate.
Most animals have structural adaptions such as very thick fur and skin, which absorbs the sunlight for warmth. Small ears is another adaptation which helps retain heat. The hair and pads on their feet help insulate their bodies and create traction for ice.
Common physiological adaptations are maintaining a certain body temperature, like the arctic ground squirrel which can also slow its heartrate down to keep warm. Other animals have paws that are lower than their body temperature to reduce heat loss from these extremeties, an example is the arctic wolf.
Another type of adaption is behavioural adaptations, many animals live in groups and some huddle together to stay warm. Hibernation is also an example, as animals make den's and sleep through the coldest winter months.
Many plants have adaptations to the cold environment as well. Most plants have structural adaptations, such as silky hairs or smaller leaves.
Behavioural adaptations in plants like growing shorter roots and flowers that follow the sun also help them to survive.
Special physiological adaptations for instance, a plants ability to absorb more water is also beneficial.
All of these adaptations have occured due to natural selection. Over hundreds of years these plants have changed drastically, due to several small changes. The small changes were likely mutations in a gene of one plant or animal, but they have spread through entire populations, The mutated animal, or plants would have benefitted from the mutation, and so they would have survived longer. Once they reproduce, the offspring will also survive longer, thus allowing them to reproduce as well, wheras many of the other non-mutated ones would have died earlier. As years pass by this mutation can spread through the entire population. These adaptations have benefitted the plants and animals because they are now better suited to their environment, which is very cold. They are able to stay warmer, and reproduce earlier which increases survival rate.
The Importance of the Arctic Tundra
The arctic tundra is a very unique biome, it is very dry and temperatures that reach well below 0. The arctic tundra contributes to global biodiversity in a unique way. Although it has less than 2 000 species of plants, it is known for its genetic biodiversity. Many plants and animals have adaptations to survive in the harsh cold environment. In the summer, bogs provide food and habitat for hundreds of migrating birds and other species. Without this biome, we would be missing many species of plants and animals that live there, as well as the species that migrate during the summer. Furthermore, the tundra has some very unique symbiotic relationships, for example lichen, that is a mutualistic relationship between fungi and algae. All of these things contribute to global biodiversity and without out them the consequences would be catastrophic.
It is essential that we protect this biome, not only because of the unique species of plants and animals, but also because of the greenhouse gases. Scientists have widly believed that the tundra always soaked up more carbon dioxide than it emitted. However, with global warming becoming a more apparent problem, so, has the tundra. As the tundra heats up, it is releasing more carbon dioxide and methane (two types of greenhouse gases, that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere) into the atmosphere. As a result, the climate of the tundra is warming up, and scientists warn that this could significantly alter the tundra's environment.
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It is essential that we protect this biome, not only because of the unique species of plants and animals, but also because of the greenhouse gases. Scientists have widly believed that the tundra always soaked up more carbon dioxide than it emitted. However, with global warming becoming a more apparent problem, so, has the tundra. As the tundra heats up, it is releasing more carbon dioxide and methane (two types of greenhouse gases, that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere) into the atmosphere. As a result, the climate of the tundra is warming up, and scientists warn that this could significantly alter the tundra's environment.
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Species at Risk Management Plan
Polar bears are important to the arctic tundra biome, as they are a tertiary consumer. Global warming is threatening to the habitat of the polar bear, due to melting snow and food shortage. Mainly, humans have been responsible for this endangerement as the amount of carbon dioxide we emit has been increasing. Therefore, our proposal for the species at risk management plan is this: We must reduce our carbon footprint, set limitations on the hunting of polar bears and seals and adapting our lifestyles to be more energy efficient and sustainable.
The biggest threat to the polar bear is global warming, because as the tundra gets hotter, the ice melts causing the polar bear to lose its home. That is why it is so important to reduce our carbon footprint, by driving less, using less energy at home and even recycling materials, see the button below for more ways to do so. Almost as equally important is the shortage of food available to polar bears. Polar bears usually eat seals, so we propose that the governement put more laws in place to protect seals from hunting. Lastly, we need to alter our own lifestyles and spread the word to our neighbours, friends and family. Living a more energy efficient lifestyle is not only healthier but it will also help the environement. Overall, the best thing we can do to help the species at risk is to reduce our carbon footprint.
The biggest threat to the polar bear is global warming, because as the tundra gets hotter, the ice melts causing the polar bear to lose its home. That is why it is so important to reduce our carbon footprint, by driving less, using less energy at home and even recycling materials, see the button below for more ways to do so. Almost as equally important is the shortage of food available to polar bears. Polar bears usually eat seals, so we propose that the governement put more laws in place to protect seals from hunting. Lastly, we need to alter our own lifestyles and spread the word to our neighbours, friends and family. Living a more energy efficient lifestyle is not only healthier but it will also help the environement. Overall, the best thing we can do to help the species at risk is to reduce our carbon footprint.