Tundra
The tundra is characterized by permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen suboil. During the short, cool summer, the ground thaws to depth of a few centimeters and becomes soggy and wet. In winter, the topsoil freezes again. This cycle of thawing and freezing, which rips and crushes plant roots, is one reason that tundra plants are small and stunted. Cold temperatures, high winds, the short growing season, and humus-poor soils also limit plant height.
Abiotic factors: strong winds; low precipitation; short and soggy summers; long, cold, and dark winters; poorly developed soils; permafrost
Dominant plants: ground-hugging plants such as mosses, lichens, sedges, and short grasses
Dominant wildlife: a few resident birds and mammals that can withstand the harsh conditions; migratory waterfowl, shore birds, musk ox, artic foxes, and caribou; lemmings and other small rodents
Geographic distribution: northern North America, Asia, and Europe
The tundra is characterized by permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen suboil. During the short, cool summer, the ground thaws to depth of a few centimeters and becomes soggy and wet. In winter, the topsoil freezes again. This cycle of thawing and freezing, which rips and crushes plant roots, is one reason that tundra plants are small and stunted. Cold temperatures, high winds, the short growing season, and humus-poor soils also limit plant height.
Abiotic factors: strong winds; low precipitation; short and soggy summers; long, cold, and dark winters; poorly developed soils; permafrost
Dominant plants: ground-hugging plants such as mosses, lichens, sedges, and short grasses
Dominant wildlife: a few resident birds and mammals that can withstand the harsh conditions; migratory waterfowl, shore birds, musk ox, artic foxes, and caribou; lemmings and other small rodents
Geographic distribution: northern North America, Asia, and Europe