Tundra: The Icy BiomeTundra: The Icy Biome

By Christian W.By Christian W.

Block 7Block 7

““Where in the world are Where in the world are we?”we?”

• Northern CanadaNorthern Canada• Islands west of GreenlandIslands west of Greenland• Northern EuropeNorthern Europe• AntarticaAntartica

Tempeture and WeatherTempeture and Weather

• It can get as low It can get as low as 7 degrees and as 7 degrees and rains up to 12.5 rains up to 12.5 inches of snow a inches of snow a month! Wow, month! Wow, that’s a lot!that’s a lot!

LandformsLandforms

• There are three There are three different types of different types of land forms in the land forms in the tundra that I tundra that I found out about:found out about:

• IceburgsIceburgs• MountainsMountains• SnowdriftsSnowdrifts

Polar BearsPolar Bears

• Polar bears live along Polar bears live along shores and on sea ice in shores and on sea ice in the icy cold Arctic. In fall the icy cold Arctic. In fall pregnant polar bears pregnant polar bears make dens in earth and make dens in earth and snow banks, where snow banks, where they’ll stay through the they’ll stay through the winter and give birth to winter and give birth to one to three cubs. Polar one to three cubs. Polar bears primarily eat seals.bears primarily eat seals. Their white coats are Their white coats are very valuable.very valuable.

PenguinsPenguins

• Emperors clump Emperors clump together in huge, together in huge, huddled masses. They huddled masses. They take turns moving to the take turns moving to the inside of the group, inside of the group, where they’re protected where they’re protected from the icy cold from the icy cold temperatures and wind. temperatures and wind. As the young penguins As the young penguins grow, adults leave them grow, adults leave them in groups of chicks called in groups of chicks called crèches while they leave crèches while they leave to fish. to fish.

OrcasOrcas

• Orcas hunt everything Orcas hunt everything from fish to walruses—from fish to walruses—seals, sea lions, penguins, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks, squid, sea turtles, sharks, and even other kinds of and even other kinds of whales.Average-sized whales.Average-sized orcas may eat about 500 orcas may eat about 500 pounds (227 kilograms) of pounds (227 kilograms) of food a day. Orcas’ teeth food a day. Orcas’ teeth are shaped for ripping are shaped for ripping and tearing prey. They and tearing prey. They are also called killer are also called killer whales.whales.

LichensLichens

• A lichen looks like one A lichen looks like one plant but is made up of plant but is made up of two different kinds of two different kinds of plants - algae and fungi. plants - algae and fungi. Some look like a crust Some look like a crust growing on rocks and growing on rocks and trees. Some look like little trees. Some look like little bushy plants and others bushy plants and others hang from the trees. hang from the trees. Many animals depend on Many animals depend on lichens for food.lichens for food.

Cloud BerryCloud Berry

• Another plant found in Another plant found in the arctic is the cloud the arctic is the cloud berry. It is a flower with berry. It is a flower with five white pedals and one five white pedals and one berry per stalk. The fruit berry per stalk. The fruit on it is red when not on it is red when not ripe, when it is ripe it is ripe, when it is ripe it is soft and orange. The soft and orange. The plant has large green plant has large green leaves. You can find it in leaves. You can find it in most parts of the arctic.most parts of the arctic.

Pasque FlowerPasque Flower

• The Pasque flower has The Pasque flower has several stems that rise several stems that rise inches off the ground. On inches off the ground. On each stem is one flower each stem is one flower with 5 petals. In the with 5 petals. In the center of the flower is center of the flower is yellow. Below the flower, yellow. Below the flower, around the stem is a leaf around the stem is a leaf covered in hairs, as is the covered in hairs, as is the rest of the plant.rest of the plant. The fruit The fruit juices are made into a drop of juices are made into a drop of liquid that help with the eye.liquid that help with the eye.

““Tour De Biome Tour De Biome Questions”Questions”

• ““Do all tundra’s have Do all tundra’s have mountains?”Maybe, but mountains?”Maybe, but unlikely. It all matters by unlikely. It all matters by how much precipitation. how much precipitation. The rock would just erode The rock would just erode away. away.

• ““Why is the sky cleaner Why is the sky cleaner there than here?” there than here?” Because there isn’t a lot Because there isn’t a lot of polluting machines of polluting machines there.there.

““How Does Water Play Into How Does Water Play Into My Biome?”My Biome?”

• WaterWater is part of is part of my biome my biome because it is because it is what the ice, what the ice, glaciers,ice- glaciers,ice- burgs, and ice- burgs, and ice- caps are made caps are made out of.out of.

My ReferencesMy References

• Tundra: The BookTundra: The Book• Internet:GoogleInternet:Google• Internet:National Internet:National

GeographyGeography• Internet: assorted Internet: assorted

sitessites