We know what a biome is! =]

A biome is a big area that has different types of plants and animals. It is decided what type of biome it is by the climate, rock formations, water sources, different types of soil, and latitude.

This picture shows different types of biomes around the globe. Each color represents a different biome.

How many different types of biomes can you name?

http://www.enotes.com/science-fact-finder/environment/what-biome

What are polar tundras?

Polar Tundra is the coldest of all biomes of the tundra biome, and its in the northern hemisphere. It's considered the world's youngest biome. It has very little plants, and has animals like polar bears, grey wolves, lemmings, rabbits, ravens, falcons and penguins. The soil in artic tundra has little nutrients so the amount of vegetation is small. Some plant life in the artic tundra include lichen, moss, flowers, and shrubbery. The ice cold rivers are homes for fish like salmon and other freshwater fish. When it rains, it sometimes creates small ponds that are mating spots for mosquitoes and flies. In the winter, the birds migrate south, which creates constant change in the animal population.

Do you think our biome has more or less biodiversity than yours?

http://worldbiomes.com/FAQ/biomes_FAQ_ans_019.htm

http://worldbiomes.com/biomes_tundra.htm

The state Alaska is an example of an Arctic biome. It's to the left of Canada. Alaska has coastlines of 3 different seas, Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Bering Sea,and the coastline of the whole state is longer than 6,600 miles. Half of the world's glaciers are in Alaska. Seventeen out of the twenty highest peeks are found in Alaska.

Can you think of any other real world examples of our biome?

www.welcometoalaska.com/facts.htm

www.alaskasbest.com/facts.htm

www.50states.com/facts/alaska.htm

Walking through Alaska

There are only a handful of Polar Tundras around the world. One of those is Alaska. In Alaska instead of seeing different types of trees, and many forests, you see low shrubs, mosses, lichens and sedges covering many different valleys and mountainsides. The landscape is full of small lakes, and has strange patterns.

If you walk through your biome, would you see any of these things?

http://www.wc.adfg.state.ak.us/index.cfm?adfg=ecosystems.tundra

Tundra plants:Tufted Saxifrage

Tufted Saxifrage is a fairly common plant in Alaska. This flower forms small fruit containing many seeds. This helps feed other organisms and help maintain the population of the flower. The Tufted Saxifrage has adapted to the environment. Currently, cool weather is better for the flower. It has adapted by having a really good underground root sysstem. The roots store carbohydrates and nutrients so they can respond quickly to the cold weather.

What do you think would happen to the Tufted Saxifrage didn't have a good underground root system?

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra_plant_page.htm

Tundra Plant: Pasque Flowers

Pasque flowers are very common flowers in the Arctic Tundra that live where frogs live. The fruit of the plant is a plum. For the people, the pasque flower can be used for medical needs. It can treat cataracts. Because the polar tundra is the coldest of all biomes. For this reason, pasque flowers grows low to the ground to keep away from the cold climate. It's covered in fine silky hairs which help insulate the flower.

What do you think could hurt the flower the most in the Arctic Tundra?

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra_plant_page.htm

Tundra Animal:Moose

If you go and visit Alaska, you will most likely see moose. You can find hundreds of them in Anchorage City. For moose, it's safer to be in cities because they are far from grizzly bears, and they won't get hurt in the cities because moose are very beloved animal in Alaska, since it is the state animal. Besides cities, they love fire burned areas, meadows, and places with rivers. They like eating pond weeds, grasses, willow and birch shrubs. Moose can swim, they also have a good sense of smell but not such good eye sight. The males have large antlers that they use to protect themselves, and females can kick very hard with their hooves.


Many moose die every year because of animals like wolves, and bears also because of cold weather, but the main thing that takes many moose away is people and their cars.

Do any animals in your biome have a better chance of survival in cities?

www.alaskascenes.com/alaskamoose.html

http://www.alaskastock.com/Alaska_Moose_Photos.asp

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/moose.html

http://www.k12.nf.ca/stannesacademy/AnimalAdaptations/moose.htm

Tundra animal:Musk Oxen

Musk Oxen have long hair that goes to the ground, under all that hair there is a thick layer of brown fleece. In summer some of their hair sheds. Thier main enemy is the artic wolves. Musk Oxen travel in groups of ten to twenty, they huddle together to keep warm, and they form a circle around the young ones while facing out so they're protected. They snort when their annoyed, and they eat grasses, lichens, and willow trees. Also, both male and female have horns, and they are herbivores.

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/arctic/Amuskox.html

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/musk-ox.html

Regions: Polar Tundra

The polar tundra are found in the northernmost region of the globe. This is probably because the further away from the equater you get, the colder it is. The polar tundra is the coldest of all the biomes.


What continent is made up mostly of polar tundras?