biology of the tundra
The tundra biome has unique life with very special adaptions. The tundra is a very harsh environment with little rainfall, freezing tempters and very little food and shelter.
There are many plants and animals living in the tundra with many important adaptions to help them live in the harsh conditions of the tundra. The first is the caribou (consumer), or Rangifer tarandus. The caribou eats mainly caribou moss, and grasses, they have thick fur and the strands are hollow for warmth. Next is the musk oxen (consumer) or, Ovibos moschatus. They eat mostly grasses, they have a thick over coat and an under coat of warm fleece. They have sharp horns for defense and huddle together for protection. The lemming or Lemmus lemmus (consumer) eats mostly lichens and grasses. They migrate to find food when there is not enough to eat.
The plants in the arctic have it even harder then the animals since sunlight and warmth are scarce in the tundra they must adapt to these harsh conditions very quickly. The first plant is called the prairic crocus (producer) or anemone patens, it has fuzzy coverings to provide protection from wind. Next is the purple saxifrage (producer), or saxifraga oppostitfolia. They grow small and close together and close to the ground for warmth. Arctic poppy (producer), or papaner radicatum, it has cup shaped flowers that face the sun. Some other adaptions include dark colored petals to absorb solar heat, shallow roots, and small leaves.
There are many different kinds of lichens which are all decomposers and all have their unique scientific name. They don’t need soil to grow and can grow on rocks. They break down rocks and make it possible for other plants to grow. Without lichens many animals would starve and die, like the caribou.
These are the animals; plants and their adaptions shape the tundra and the environment as well.
There are many plants and animals living in the tundra with many important adaptions to help them live in the harsh conditions of the tundra. The first is the caribou (consumer), or Rangifer tarandus. The caribou eats mainly caribou moss, and grasses, they have thick fur and the strands are hollow for warmth. Next is the musk oxen (consumer) or, Ovibos moschatus. They eat mostly grasses, they have a thick over coat and an under coat of warm fleece. They have sharp horns for defense and huddle together for protection. The lemming or Lemmus lemmus (consumer) eats mostly lichens and grasses. They migrate to find food when there is not enough to eat.
The plants in the arctic have it even harder then the animals since sunlight and warmth are scarce in the tundra they must adapt to these harsh conditions very quickly. The first plant is called the prairic crocus (producer) or anemone patens, it has fuzzy coverings to provide protection from wind. Next is the purple saxifrage (producer), or saxifraga oppostitfolia. They grow small and close together and close to the ground for warmth. Arctic poppy (producer), or papaner radicatum, it has cup shaped flowers that face the sun. Some other adaptions include dark colored petals to absorb solar heat, shallow roots, and small leaves.
There are many different kinds of lichens which are all decomposers and all have their unique scientific name. They don’t need soil to grow and can grow on rocks. They break down rocks and make it possible for other plants to grow. Without lichens many animals would starve and die, like the caribou.
These are the animals; plants and their adaptions shape the tundra and the environment as well.