Polar GrasslandsPolar Grasslands

Anneliese S.Anneliese S.

Dan H.Dan H.

Climate CharacteristicsClimate Characteristics

Average Winter Temperature: -28° C Average Winter Temperature: -28° C Average Summer Temperature: 3-Average Summer Temperature: 3-

12° C12° C Small temperature range due to Small temperature range due to

extremely cold temperatures extremely cold temperatures throughout the yearthroughout the year

http://earth.rice.edu/mtpe/bio/biosphere/topics/biomes/biomes_map_final.gif

Climate CharacteristicsClimate Characteristics

Annual Precipitation: 15-25cm Annual Precipitation: 15-25cm -Including melting snow-Including melting snow Limiting Factors:Limiting Factors:-Wind: 30-60 mph-Wind: 30-60 mph

-Winter throughout most of the year-Winter throughout most of the year

-Permafrost (frozen ground throughout the -Permafrost (frozen ground throughout the year)year)

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/tundra-landscapes/beechey.html

Flora and FaunaFlora and Fauna

Flora (plants)Flora (plants)– Grasses, sedges, heather, mosses, and Grasses, sedges, heather, mosses, and

lichens.lichens. Fauna (animals)Fauna (animals)

– Seals, penguins, arctic foxes, caribou, Seals, penguins, arctic foxes, caribou, snowshoe rabbit, and polar bears.snowshoe rabbit, and polar bears.

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/enlarge/polarbeartundra.html

AdaptationAdaptation

Plant adaptationPlant adaptation– Can survive in high winds, freezing Can survive in high winds, freezing

temperatures, and little sunlight.temperatures, and little sunlight. Animal adaptationAnimal adaptation

– PawsPaws– White FurWhite Fur– Thick fat, fur, or blubberThick fat, fur, or blubber

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Very low biodiversityVery low biodiversity 1,700 species of plants1,700 species of plants Only 48 land mammals.Only 48 land mammals. Many insects and birds migrate Many insects and birds migrate

annually.annually.

Biomass PyramidBiomass Pyramid

ReferencesReferences Regents of the University of California. (2008) The Tundra Biome. Regents of the University of California. (2008) The Tundra Biome.

Retrieved October 17, 2008 from University of California Berkeley Retrieved October 17, 2008 from University of California Berkeley http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/tundra.phphttp://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/tundra.php

Rob Nelson. (2003) Arctic Tundra. Retrieved October 17, 2008 Rob Nelson. (2003) Arctic Tundra. Retrieved October 17, 2008 from The Wild Classroom. from The Wild Classroom. http://http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/arctictundra.htmlwww.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/arctictundra.html

Madhavi Ghare.(2008) Tundra Climate Facts. Retrieved October Madhavi Ghare.(2008) Tundra Climate Facts. Retrieved October 17, 2008 from Buzzle. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/tundra-17, 2008 from Buzzle. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/tundra-climate-facts.htmlclimate-facts.html

““How are the biomes distributed?” How are the biomes distributed?” (http://earth.rice.edu/mtpe/bio/biosphere/topics/biomes/biomes_m(http://earth.rice.edu/mtpe/bio/biosphere/topics/biomes/biomes_map.html)ap.html)

““Beechey Island” Beechey Island” (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/enlarge/(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/enlarge/beechey.html)beechey.html)

““Tundra with Polar Bear” Tundra with Polar Bear” (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/enlarge/(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/enlarge/polarbeartundra.html) polarbeartundra.html)