Tundra+Period+2

**Facts/characteristics of the Biome:** **The most distinctive characteristic of tundra soil is its permafrost, a permanently frozen layer of the ground. During the summers, the top section of the soil may thaw out letting plants and microorganisms to grow and reproduce. On the other hand, these plants and microorganisms become dormant during the cold winter months.** **The tundra is the coldest biome. The word tundra comes from the Finnish word "tunturi" which means treeless plain. Two major nutrients of the biome are phosphorous and nitrogen, the nitrogen is created by biological fixation, and the phosphorous comes from precipitation.**
 * TUNDRA**

**Location of the Biome** : **The Tundra Biome is one of the most unique Biomes in the world. It covers one tenth of the earth's land area. The Tundra is located above the tree line towards the North pole.**

**Consumers/Animals living in the biome** : ** The frigid cold and deep snow makes life in the tundra very difficult. Every animal must adapt in order to survive. Some have grown thick fur which turns white in the winter. Others find a place to hibernate during the winter months. Some animals that live in the Tundra are birds such as snowy owls and swans. Certain mammals live in the Tundra also, such as Arctic Foxes, Caribou, Musks, Oxen, Mountain goats, Elk, and Polar Bears. **

The animals that live in this biome are adapted to be able to survive the long winters and reproduce during the short summers. Mammals and birds have insulation from fat. Some of the animals hibernate during the long winters. Reptiles and amphibians are not common in tundra. Due to constant immigration and emigration, the populations perpetually oscillate.

**Producers/Plants living in the biome:** ** During the short-growing season in the summer, the tundra blooms with a variety of low-growing plants. The plants growing in the tundra are often small and grow close to the ground. Cushion plants are more common in the tundra where their growth habit helps protect them from the cold. The tundra landscape is often covered with rocks. ** ** The plants that are commonly found in the tundra are dwarf trees, tussock grasses, small leafed shrubs, and heaths. Some other great plants that are found in the Tundra are Arctic Mosses, arctic willow, caribou mosses, and bearberrries. **

** Dominant (keystone) species in the biome: ** **Some of the dominant vegetation in the Tundra is grasses, mosses, and lichens. The** ** Keystone species include grizzly bears, sea stars, and sea otters. **

**Average Temperature Range for the biome:** ** The Tundra has extremely cold temperatures. The summer high is around 40 degrees F. The coldest winter temperature gets down to -25 degrees F. That's much colder than any Biome in the world. Sometimes as few as 55 days per year have a mean temperature higher than 32 F (0 C). The average annual temperature is only 10 to 20F (-12C to -6C). **



**Annual Precipiation for the biome:**

** The average yearly precipitation in the Tundra is usually less than 15 inches. **

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