is the area of arctic plains located and covering most of the earth's terrain north of the coniferous forest regions.
Photo: EcoWorld |
The predominant life form found includes plantlife such as sedge, heath, willow, moss, and lichen. Alpine tundra, occurs above the timberline in the high mountains around the world. Though sparse, the Antarctic region includes a few areas of tundra as well.
Tundra summers are short and the winters long and extreme. Very little rain or snow falls on the tundra. Because of permafrost and the flat landscape, pools of water and bogs are left standing, this is what offsets the low precipitation of the region.
Plant Life
The number of plant species found on the tundra is few, their growth habit is low to the ground, and the majority of their biomass is concentrated in the subterranean root mass. Because of the seasons, these
plants have a very short growing season, and they are more likely to reproduce vegetatively by division and budding rather than sexually (by flower pollination). Plant communities on the tundra are adapted to constant cold winds and to soil disturbance caused by frost heaves. They are capable of photosynthesis at very low levels of light, low temperatures, and long periods of daylight.
The alpine plant communities consist mostly of low, mat forming and sponge like cushion forming plants. These plants are rarely found in the Arctic. Plant photosynthesis happens here under extremely bright light, and in shorter periods of daylight. They are well adjusted to strong winds, heavy snows, and highly variable temperatures.
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