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TUNDRA.
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Examines this simple biome, its fauna, animal/predators, balance.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Examines this simple biome, its fauna, animal/predators, balance.
Paper Introduction:
INTRODUCTION
Different regions on earth share similar climatic conditions despite being found in geographically different areas, and when areas have comparable ecosystems, they are categorized as being one of the types of biome. The geographical distribution and the productivity of the various biomes is controlled primarily by the climatic variables of precipitation and temperature. The tundra is an arctic and alpine biome, with a geographical distribution largely poleward of 60 degrees North latitude:
The tundra biome is characterized by an absence of trees,
the presence of dwarf plants, and a ground surface that is
wet, spongy, and hummocky. Soils of this biome are usually
permanently frozen (permafrost) starting at a depth of a
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http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tundra/tundra.html. "Introduction tobiogeography and ecology." Fundamentals of physical geography.Okanagan University College, http://www.geog.ouc.bc.ca/physgeog/contents/9k.html. There are certain physiological adaptations indicated,such as the ability to accumulate thick deposits of fat during the shortgrowing season. INTRODUCTION Different regions on earth share similar climatic conditions despitebeing found in geographically different areas, and when areas havecomparable ecosystems, they are categorized as being one of the types ofbiome. The edaphic controls include permafrost, and this and notcold temperaturesas such is generally believed to be what prevents tree growth.Additionally, freeze-thaw activity, a thin active layer, andsolifluction during the warmer months contribute to strongcontrols on vegetation patterns, creating a mosaic ofmicrohabitats and plant communities. (1982). The musk ox is the strangest of the herbivores in the tundra region.This is a large and shaggy beat with a very fine wool, which is actually anunderfur that is shed in great patches in summer. The study of predator/prey relationships isa major area of study with reference to the moose population(Ballard & Van Ballenberghe, 1998, 247). & McCormick-Ray, M.G. Thetundra is the simplest biome in terms of species composition andfood chains. Adultpolar bears have strong incisors, with cheek teeth that are fairly smalland more jagged than those of the brown bear, which some scientists believeindicates a change from an omnivorous diet to a more completely carnivorousone (Davids, 1982, 3 -31). Among the vegetation found there are lichens,mosses, sedges, perennial forms, and dwarfed shrubs, as well asheaths, birches, and willows. Perry, R. wolves are skilled predators, and they are not wasteful predatorsthat kill only when they need the food. Lords of the Arctic. The world of the polar bear. They have large feet which help them travelover the snow. In Ecologyand management of the North American moose, A.W. The mammals found in the tundra biome range in size fromshrews weighing only a few grams to the moose, which weighs over6 kilograms, and among the animals found in the region arerodents such as muskrats, lemmings, ground squirrels, and otheranimals such as foxes, wolves, hares, lynxes, wolverines,weasels, otters, caribou, moose, and musk oxen. The animals have large, compact bodiesfollowing Bergmann's and Allen's rules; a thick insulating cover offeathers or fur; and pelage and plumage that turns white in winter andbrown in summer. The climate involves high latitudeconditions that impact life in this biome, and among the climatic elementsof import are an extremely short growing season (6 to 1 weeks); long,cold, dark winters (6 to 1 months with mean monthly temperatures below32o Fahrenheit or o Centigrade); and low precipitation (less than fiveinches per year) coupled with strong, drying winds. They cannot run as fast as caribou, and they are unpredictable intheir behavior and formidable because of their size and strength (Ray andMcCormick-Ray, 1981, 94). Wolves, grizzly bears, and black bears are the primarypredators of moose. The wolf is highly territorial, and one pack will often covermore than 25 square kilometers (Ray and McCormick-Ray, 1981,93). They do not have theability to become torpid in the cold and remain active all winter long.All live under the insulative snow in the winter, each with its ownparticular habitat requirements(Ray and McCormick-Ray, 1981, 92-93). One model found in theliterature suggests that the moose population can stabilize atdifferent equilibria in response to natural and/or human-causedchanges. They are also good swimmers and take to the water or snowto avoid bloodsucking insects. Soils of this biome are usually permanently frozen (permafrost) starting at a depth of a few centimeters to meter or more. Bears can travel at about 35 miles perhour, and some may go considerably faster, with their top speed dependenton size, weight, and sex. Pidwirny, M.J. and Van Ballenberghe, V. New York: Chanticleer. The growthforms most common aretypical and ground-hugging and other warmth-preserving forms, and theseinclude tussock-forming graminoids, mats or cushion plants, and oftenevergreen members of the heath family, such as rosettes and dwarf shrubs,some of which are deciduous in habit. There are a small number of bird(e.g., ptarmigan) and mammal (e.g., muskox, arctic hare, arcticfox, musk ox) species that reside year-round on the tundra.Among these species, one commonly finds certain characteristics. Caribou are speedy runners and can travel at up to 8 kilometers an hour, but they cannot maintain such speeds for along period of time, especially in the summer when they wouldbecome overheated. References Ballard, W.B. (1997). Mostsmall tundra animals store their food for the winter. The primary predator for most of these mammals is the wolf(Canus lupus), a highly intelligent and social animal thattravels in packs, hunts cooperatively, and is gentle to others in the pack. First arethe morphological adaptations. The wolf can still be a formidablefoe, but more often, the wolf resorts to hares and mice as easier to catchand kill (Ray and McCormick-Ray, 1981, 94). Bears can sense prey over many miles. It is only at times when caribouor moose are low in number that wolves have a serious impact on theirpopulations. New York: Macmillan. Ray, G.C. Polar bears faced with shortages of seal meant resort toscavenging. The vegetarian hare also is able to survivebecause it is able to gnaw at the meat baits in fox-traps and the blubberin storehouses. CONCLUSION There is generally a balance between predators and prey in thetundra, a difficult biome in which fauna exist in their own niche andsurvive under particularly onerous conditions. Theeffects of predation in a number of case studies shows thatpredation can be considered a limiting factor, meaning that ithelps limit moose population growth (Ballard & Van Ballenberghe,1998, 261). The permafrost line is a physical barrier to plant root growth (Pidwirny, 2 ).In this region, competition has developed over what the land does providein the way of food and protection, though species diversity and the effectof predation are each influenced most by the climatic conditions more thanby competition. Certainpopulation adaptations are evident. The bear scavengesnot just during the winter months but all year round, and anything remotelyedible attracts bears(Perry, 1966, 37). The mooseis a mostly solitary animal and seemsungainly, with males having antlers that spread almost two meters from tipto tip. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian. Universityof Washington Press. (2 , March 9). The wolf's prey does not just sit there and wait to bekilled. The snowfall isactually advantageous to plant and animal life because if provides aninsulating layer on the ground surface, offering a degree of protectionfrom the cold. The tundra is an arctic and alpine biome, with ageographical distribution largely poleward of 6 degrees North latitude: The tundra biome is characterized by an absence of trees, the presence of dwarf plants, and a ground surface that is wet, spongy, and hummocky. It has a complex language conveyed by body language and sounds such as itshowl. THE TUNDRA The word "tundra" is derived from the Finnish word forbarren or treeless land, which describes the tundra well. It has been found that wolf predation has no impact onmoose under natural conditions, but it does become importantafter excessive hunting or natural catastrophes that reduce themoose population (Ballard & Van Ballenberghe, 1998, 248). Predator populations and plant populations respond inthe same way to the peaks and crashes of the herbivorepopulations in the course of a year. (1981). Migratory species such aswaterfowl, shorebirds and caribou adapt to the tundra by avoiding the mostsevere conditions of winter, and each year at the end of the short growingseason they move southward into the boreal forest or beyond, returning tothe tundra to breed ("The Tundra,"1996). This fat acts as insulation and as a store of energy foruse during the winter, when animal species remain active. Musk oxen form herdsthat are smaller than those of the caribou at from three to 1 animals.Both sexes have horns, and when attacked by a wolf, each will try to throwthe wolf into the air with its horns. In the Arcticregion, the lemmings are the most common rodent, but relatedvoles share their habitat and are even more common in some areas. Bears can run when they wish, and when a bear trots, he actuallypaces in a smooth, flowing gait. FAUNA Various strategies have evolved to enable certain fauna towithstand the harsh conditions of the tundra, and thesestrategies can be divided among those species that are residentand those that are migratory. The fox is even more of a scavenger than the jackal ortiger, and the bear is more of a scavenger than that. Davids, R.C. It is necessary for these larger mammals to be ableto scavenge to survive the winter, while lemmings have apermanently accessible food reserve of roots and moss beneath the snow andare able to grow extra-large claws specifically fortunneling in the winter, and musk ox are able to cleave a waydown to ice-encrusted herbage with a powerful stroke from asharp-edged hoof. The geographical distribution and the productivity of the variousbiomes is controlled primarily by the climatic variables of precipitationand temperature. "The Tundra" (1996). There is no true soildeveloped in this biome due to the edaphic factors ("The Tundra,"1996). Franzmann & C.C.Schwartz(eds.), 247-273. Wildlife of thepolar regions. There are cyclical fluctuations inpopulation size, and this is perhaps best seen in the lemming, a smallrodent which is the major herbivore in the tundra's simple food chain ("TheTundra," 1996). (1966). They are mainly lichen-eaters.
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