Tundra Ecosystems

Tundra Ecosystems — page 3 — Limited Wildlife The tundra is home to many types of plants and animals However the variety is not as great as in other parts of the world This lower biodiversity is due in part to a harsh climate Only those species that have adapted to the cold can survive 6 The fox relies on polar bears for most of its meals Once a bear finishes eating the fox eats the scraps Even a polar bear usually cannot eat a whole seal With its white fur the fox easily blends in with the snowy terrain Just in case the bear is still nearby the fox moves slowly and quietly It does not want to become the bear’s next meal A Cold Harsh Place Life on the arctic tundra can be harsh This frosty ecosystem is found in the northernmost areas of the globe Alaska Canada Greenland and Russia all have vast tundra regions As the weather gets colder each year many animals leave the tundra They return in the spring The animals that stay have special traits to help them survive the frigid winter

Tundra Ecosystems — page 4 — Polar bears are the largest carnivores of the tundra 7

Tundra Ecosystems — page 5 — The Alpine Tundra The Arctic is not the only place where tundra is found Tundra also exists in high elevations throughout the world These ecosystems are known as alpine tundra As in the Arctic only specially adapted plants can grow in alpine tundra However there are no trees The alpine tundra is sometimes called the land above the trees for this reason 8 Polar bears and arctic foxes have dense winter coats Seals and walruses have a heavy layer of insulating body fat called blubber Everything that lives in the tundra plays a role in the ecosystem Animals eat other animals and plants Even moss plays an important part It helps keep the soil moist This allows plants to grow in the summer Each living thing depends on other organisms for its survival

Tundra Ecosystems — page 6 — 9 A Tundra Food Web The food web of the arctic tundra includes both large and small wildlife Polar bears eat smaller animals such as seals Foxes scavenge on leftover seals Both foxes and owls hunt rabbits The rabbits survive on plants such as mosses that grow on rocks The sun provides energy for the moss to grow How does this food web help you understand how animals survive in the tundra

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