Tundra (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

‘Tundra’ comes from the Finnish word ‘tunturi’, meaning ‘treeless plain’

The tundra region is located between 60° and 75° north and south of the equator

It is found mostly in the northern hemisphere, near the Arctic Circle

• This includes parts of Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Russia and Scandinavia

There is limited tundra in the southern hemisphere because there is less land at this latitude

• Small areas are found in South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula

Temperatures are low all year round

• Below 0°C for 6–10 months

Winters are very cold, with a period of continuous darkness

• Temperatures can fall as low as –50°C

Summers are short and cool, with a period of continuous daylight

• Temperatures reach a high of 10–15°C

Precipitation is low, often below 250mm

• Tundra regions are sometimes called ‘cold deserts’

Winds are strong and cold

The harsh climate means that the tundra has low biodiversity

• There are about 1700 species of plants, 400 varieties of flowers, but only 48 different mammals

There is a short growing season of just 50–60 days

The soil is permanently frozen because of low temperatures

• This is known as permafrost and makes it harder for plants to grow

• In the summer, the top layer thaws, leaving the land boggy and waterlogged

There are no trees in the tundra ecosystem

Plants include mosses, lichens, grasses and shrubs

They are small and round to protect the plant from the wind

Leaves are small to limit moisture loss

Flowering plants are bright and vibrant to attract insects for pollination

Most become dormant to survive the cold, dark winters

They have shallow roots because of the permafrost

Arctic Willow is one of the smallest shrubs in the world

• It is low-growing to avoid wind and prevent heat loss

• It has shallow roots because of the permafrost

• It has fuzzy leaves to trap heat and reduce water loss

Animals include caribou, foxes and polar bears, as well as birds and insects

Many animals have white coats in winter for camouflage (e.g. Arctic hares and Arctic foxes)

• This helps predators to sneak up on prey and allows prey to hide in the snow

Some animals hibernate to conserve energy and survive the winter

• Arctic ground squirrels hibernate for 7–8 months of the year and can survive even if their body temperature drops below freezing

Most animals have thick fur or fat layers to insulate them against the cold

• Musk oxen grow two layers of fur to trap heat

Birds such as the Arctic tern migrate to warmer areas during winter

Caribou eat lichens, grasses and mosses

• They have thick fur and a fat layer for insulation

• Their large, wide hooves help to spread their weight on the snow

• They migrate long distances for food and to avoid harsh winters