What dangers does permafrost pose? Is Siberian permafrost thawing faster? Is Russia the most vulnerable country due to permafrost? What are the bacteria related to permafrost? Can bacteria hibernating for millions of years in permafrost be activated?
Is there permafrost in the southern hemisphere? What is the difference between the tundra and the taiga? Related Articles Tundra Characteristics. Does the Tundra Have Rain? Where Are the Temperate Zones Located? What Are the 8 Ecosystems? Comparing and Contrasting a Temperate Biome and a Taiga What are the Different Kinds of Land Called? Alaskan Tundra Facts.
Characteristics of the Grassland. Characteristics of a Dry Climate. What Continents Are in the Tundra? Tundra Trees. About Food Chains in the Tundra Ecosystem. Taiga Fun Facts. Cold Desert Plants and Animals. Characteristics of Grassland Biomes. Types of Environmental Ecosystems. As in the boreal forests, there is little evaporation due to the cold temperatures. Plants in the Arctic tundra are generally low to the ground. There is little species diversity, low net primary productivity, and low aboveground biomass.
The soils of the Arctic tundra may remain in a perennially frozen state referred to as permafrost. The permafrost makes it impossible for roots to penetrate deep into the soil and slows the decay of organic matter, which inhibits the release of nutrients from organic matter.
During the growing season, the ground of the Arctic tundra can be completely covered with plants or lichens. The biodiversity of the tundras is low: there are 1, species of vascular plants and only 48 species of land mammals. Notable animals in the Arctic tundra include caribou reindeer , musk ox, arctic hare, arctic fox, snowy owl, lemmings, and polar bears.
Due to the harsh climate, tundra regions have seen little human activity, even though they are sometimes rich in natural resources such as oil and uranium.
Learning Objectives Recognize the distinguishing characteristics of boreal forests and arctic tundra. Key Points The boreal forest is found across most of Canada, Alaska, Russia, and northern Europe; the arctic tundra lies north of the boreal forest. The boreal forest has cold, dry winters and short, cool, wet summers with precipitation that takes the form of snow; due to this environment, evergreen coniferous trees are the dominant plants.
The soil in boreal forest regions is usually acidic and contains little available nitrogen. Boreal forests have lower productivity than tropical or temperate forests; they also have less diversity, with only a tree layer and ground layer.
Temperatures in the arctic tundra are cold year-round and precipitation is very low. Plants in the arctic tundra have a very short growing season of approximately 10—12 weeks, but during this time, growth is rapid; plants are low to the ground and the soil is permanently frozen.
Key Terms permafrost : permanently frozen ground arctic tundra : a biome found in the far Northern Hemisphere, north of the boreal forests, where the subsoil is permanently frozen boreal forest : a biome found in the Northern Hemisphere and characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces, and larches.
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