The wolverine (The wolverine (Gulo guloGulo gulo) is the largest land-dwelling species of the ) is the largest land-dwelling species of the Mustelidae or weasel family (the Giant Otter is largest overall), and is the Mustelidae or weasel family (the Giant Otter is largest overall), and is the only species currently classified in the genus Gulo. These tough animals are only species currently classified in the genus Gulo. These tough animals are solitary, and they need a lot of room to roam. Individual wolverines may solitary, and they need a lot of room to roam. Individual wolverines may travel 15 miles in a day in search of food. Wolverines eat a bit of vegetarian travel 15 miles in a day in search of food. Wolverines eat a bit of vegetarian fare, like plants and berries, in the summer season. Wolverines easily fare, like plants and berries, in the summer season. Wolverines easily dispatch smaller prey, such as rabbits and rodents, but may even attack dispatch smaller prey, such as rabbits and rodents, but may even attack animals many times their size, such as caribou, if the prey appears to be animals many times their size, such as caribou, if the prey appears to be weak or injured. They also feed on corpses of larger mammals, such as elk, weak or injured. They also feed on corpses of larger mammals, such as elk, deer, and caribou. Such finds sustain them in winter when other prey may be deer, and caribou. Such finds sustain them in winter when other prey may be thinner on the ground, though they have also been known to dig into burrows thinner on the ground, though they have also been known to dig into burrows and eat hibernating mammals. Their fur was used to line parkas, though this and eat hibernating mammals. Their fur was used to line parkas, though this practice is far less common today and the animals are protected in many practice is far less common today and the animals are protected in many areas. areas.

Arctic Arctic FoxFox

The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus), also known as the White Fox or Snow Fox, The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus), also known as the White Fox or Snow Fox, is a fox of the order Carnivora. It is a small fox native to cold Arctic regions of is a fox of the order Carnivora. It is a small fox native to cold Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is common in all three tundra biomes. The arctic the Northern Hemisphere. It is common in all three tundra biomes. The arctic fox is an incredibly hardy animal that can survive frigid Arctic temperatures fox is an incredibly hardy animal that can survive frigid Arctic temperatures as low as –58°F (-50°C) in the treeless lands where it makes its home. It has as low as –58°F (-50°C) in the treeless lands where it makes its home. It has furry soles, short ears, and a short muzzle—all-important adaptations to the furry soles, short ears, and a short muzzle—all-important adaptations to the chilly clime. Arctic foxes live in burrows, and in a blizzard they may tunnel chilly clime. Arctic foxes live in burrows, and in a blizzard they may tunnel into the snow to create shelter.into the snow to create shelter.

C

Only a few species live in this difficult environment. The food chains are short, and vulnerable to stresses. When all the water freezes it becomes unavailable to life forms, and so creates a sort of cold drought in which animals and plants may die of thirst. Available nutrients in the soil are scarce.

CCAMOUFLAGEAMOUFLAGEArctic fox and ptarmigan, Arctic fox and ptarmigan, along with arctic hare and along with arctic hare and ermine, are camouflaged ermine, are camouflaged according to the season, according to the season, changing from winter white changing from winter white to summer brown, and back to summer brown, and back again, each year.again, each year.

Two tundra animals-arctic ground Two tundra animals-arctic ground squirrel and grizzly bear-hibernate squirrel and grizzly bear-hibernate (spend the winter in a state of deep (spend the winter in a state of deep dormancy, where heartbeat and dormancy, where heartbeat and respiration slow) to escape the respiration slow) to escape the hardships of winter.hardships of winter.

HHIBERNATIONIBERNATION

Since bodies with long Since bodies with long legs, ears, and tails lose legs, ears, and tails lose warmth faster than those warmth faster than those with shorter limbs, many with shorter limbs, many arctic animals, such as arctic animals, such as arctic fox and arctic hare, arctic fox and arctic hare, have evolved more have evolved more compact bodies than their compact bodies than their southerly counterparts to southerly counterparts to better conserve heat.better conserve heat.

BBODYODY SSHAPEHAPEMany tundra animals grow more Many tundra animals grow more slowly, and reproduce less frequently, slowly, and reproduce less frequently, than do their non-tundra relatives. than do their non-tundra relatives. Tundra-dwelling lake trout may take Tundra-dwelling lake trout may take ten years to reach maturity, compared ten years to reach maturity, compared to six years for those in more to six years for those in more southern regions.southern regions.

GGROWTH AND ROWTH AND RREPRODUCTIONEPRODUCTION

The tundra is an unusually cold and dry climate. Precipitation totals 6-10 inches of rain a year, which includes melted snow. This is almost as little as the world's driest deserts. Coupled with strong and drying winds, the tundra is an extreme weather biome. The tundra seems like a wet and soggy place because the precipitation that falls evaporates slowly, and because of the poor drainage caused by the permafrost. Winter temperatures don't reach above 20° F and average -20° to -30°F. Endless hours darkness settle in and the winds blow even harder. The snow that falls is blown off the high plateaus and collects in the valleys. Animals hunker down, able to find only enough food to keep warm.

Types of Tundra

Alpine

• Tops of tall cold mountains

• Higher Altitude

Artic• Arctic tundra is at

the top of the world around the North Pole

• Has permafrost, a permanently frozen layer of ice often 2000 feet thick.

• Siberia has many lakes and rivers for boating and fishing

• Siberia has one major attraction which is the Popigai Crater, which is the 4th largest crater in the world

• In the mountains there are great area to hike through and we provide tour guides

• Siberia hold many mountain ranges for good mountain climbing.

• Also we are close to the mountains which are used for even skiing

• The main rock types are basalt which were created from the volcanic activity of the Siberian Traps

Bibliography• http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/tundra/tundraweb.html

• http://www2.lhric.org/kat/3tundra.htm

• http://www.iwebquest.com/alaska/webquest/shape/animals.htm

• http://www.tundraanimals.net/

• http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/tundra.aspx