TUNDRA

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Joshua John Alvia

STRUCTURE
Tundra biomes arean ecosystem
found at poleward positions
resulting in very low temperatures
Rain falls average at a measely
200mm/year
Precipition at 100mm/year mostly
from snow
Tundra soils are permanently frozen
to great depths but during summer
at thin layer from few centimeters
to a meter thick melts and is
available for rooting plants

P.J. Richerson- http://www.des.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Richerson/ESP30/Lecture

Separated into two types:

Artic tundra
50-60 days of growing season
Average winter temp -34C but summer is 3C 12C
Permafrost exists (layer of permanently frozen subsoil:
gravel and fine material)
Deep root systems do not exist
Wind speeds: 48-97 km/hr
Plants: adapted to sweeping winds and soil
disturbances, and are short and grouped together
to resist cold temp.
Animals: are adapted to handle long cold winters as
well as breed and raise young during short summers
hibernations

STRUCTURE
Alpine tundra
Mountains worldwide at high altitudes
where trees cannot grow
180 days growing season
Temperatures usually below freezing
Unlike arctic tundra, soils are well
drained

Southward migrations
Reptiles and amphibians do not exist
Due to immigration and emigrations: populations
continually oscillate
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/tundra.php

STRUCTURE-BIOTIC COMPONENTS

http://www.acia.uaf.edu/PDFs/ACIA_Science_Chapters_Final/ACIA_Ch07_Final.pdf

STRUCTURE BIOTIC
COMPONENT

https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/BSw__UGuhx6cyA/food-webs

FUNCTION