Tundra | Wildlife Journal Junior
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What Is the Tundra?
The tundra is one of the harshest biomes and it is definitely the coldest! Temperatures in the tundra can reach as low as minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit! Beneath the tundra is permafrost. Permafrost is a permanently frozen sublayer of soil. There is very little rain or snow in the tundra, usually less than 15 inches a year.
Defrosting the Tundra
The growing season in the tundra is very short, usually only 6 to 10 weeks. In the summer, the top layer of soil may thaw out. When the ice melts, it can’t drain into the soil because of the permafrost, so water collects in bogs and ponds. This makes up for the low rain and snowfall! As the top layer of soil thaws out, plants and microorganisms have a chance to grow. The sun is then out for most of the the day and night, so the plants have extra sunlight and can grow faster.
Plants in the Tundra
Living in the Tundra
Animals that live on the tundra must be able to adapt to very cold temperatures. They must also be able to raise their young during the very short summer months.
Animals found in the tundra include the musk ox, the Arctic hare, the polar bear, the Arctic fox, the caribou, and the snowy owl. Many animals that live in the tundra, like the caribou and the semipalmated plover, migrate to warmer climates during the winter. Others, like the arctic ground squirrel, hibernate during the winter months. There are very few reptiles and amphibians found in the tundra because the temperatures are so cold.