What have you learned about tundra?
Question
Describe how the climate of the Tundra influences the animals that live there and the vegetation that grows there.
(Hint, refer to climate graph and quote months and figures. Explain how animals and plants adapt to these conditions)
The temperature of the Tundra is cold for most of the year. The temperature is below 0 degrees for 7-8 months of the year and the lowest temperature in -45 degree in January. The highest temperature is approx. 15 degree in July. Rainfall is also low all year round with the highest being 38mm in July.
This means there are poor growing conditions for plants to grow.
For example, cotton grass is short, which protects it from the wind, and snow cover in winter shields it from the extreme cold. It has compact flower heads to reduce heat loss and darker leaves help to absorb energy from the sun.
Animals such as polar bears and Arctic fox have thick fur to keep warm. White fur keeps them camouflaged against snow and ice in winter. This hides them from prety. Polar pears also have thick layers of fat to insulate them. This lets them swim in very cold water. Greasy fur helps them shed water which would make them lose heat.
