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Research Paper On Tundra

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The youngest biome on earth is the tundra. The tundra is a biome formed about 10,000 years ago and covers twenty percent of the earth’s surface. It is located in the Arctic Circle, Antarctica, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia, Siberia, and Russia. The tundra covers about three million square miles. The average temperature is -18 degrees Fahrenheit, the low is -94 degrees Fahrenheit, and the high is at 54 degrees Fahrenheit. There is only six to ten inches of precipitation per year with most of it being snow. Underneath the surface of the tundra lays a layers of permafrost. The permafrost prevents plants from growing to large sizes since the layer of frozen ground prevents their roots from growing to be bigger. The tundra is host to many …show more content…

The lemming is an example of a species from the tundra that has adapted to survive there. Lemmings are small mouse like rodents with reddish brown coats. There is an untrue myth that lemmings will jump off cliffs committing mass suicide to prevent overpopulation. People have this confused with when lemmings will herd together and cross rivers and lakes at the same time with some of population not making it across and dying in the waters. Another adaptation lemmings have are that they will resort to cannibalism when food is scarce throughout the winter months. Lemmings will also grow longer claws in the winter to be able to dig in snow that is packed tightly. During the winter lemmings are sometimes also able to change the color of their coats from reddish brown to snowy white to blend in to their surroundings from their predators. Like other organisms lemmings have changed their behaviors and have characteristics to live in the …show more content…

Lemmings, the arctic bumblebee, and the Labrador tea-plant are all examples of organisms that live in the tundra. They have all had to adapt to continue their species. However, the cold temperatures are not the only unforgiving things in the tundra. Over hunting in the tundra is leading to many species and organisms becoming endangered. Because there is permafrost in the ground of the tundra global warming will reach its tipping point. Once the permafrost melts in the tundra it will release methane gas speeding up the global warming process exponentially. The thawed permafrost also allows for nonnative plants to grow in the tundra. Although, the tundra is the second most deadly environment on earth it holds the most vital place in global

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