Case Study- Arctic Tundra(Alaska)

• The arctic tundra is the coldest biome on earth, with temperatures averaging below freezing.
• Temperatures can drop as low as -50°C (-58°F) during winter months.
• During summer, temperatures rarely exceed 12°C (54°F).
• Arctic tundra has short growing seasons due to low sunlight levels during winter months.
• Arctic tundras are characterized by short growing seasons due to long periods of darkness during winter.
• Plants have adapted to survive in these conditions through mechanisms such as photosynthesis at lower light levels and storing energy reserves from the brief growing season.
• Permafrost is soil that remains frozen year round due to extremely low temperatures.
• Plants have adapted to survive in permafrost by growing close together or forming mats to trap heat from sunlight.
• The top layer of permafrost thaws slightly during summer but freezes again in winter.
• The arctic tundra biome supports few species compared to other ecosystems because it lacks nutrients and water, making it difficult for plants to grow.
• Mammals found in the arctic tundra include musk oxen, caribou/reindeer, lemmings, arctic hares, wolves, foxes, and polar bears.
• Arctic tundras are characterized by short summers with little precipitation and long winters with extreme cold.
• Temperatures can drop below -50°C (-60°F).