tundra is a small vegetation, characterized by the presence almost exclusively of mosses and lichens, found in regions with a polar climate. The word “Tundra” is derived from the Finnish expression “tunturia”, which means “plain without trees”.
The formation of "Tundra" has an extremely short vegetative cycle, as it is found in the North hemisphere. It is covered with ice for several months of the year and only reappears when the summer thaw occurs, developing only for approximately three months. It is a vegetation of the Russia, Siberia, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Northern Canada and Alaska.
The soil where the tundra predominates, it remains frozen for most of the year, preventing the development of deeper roots. In addition, low temperatures prevent the decomposition of organic matter from dead plants and animals.
the fauna Tundra is composed of animals that feed on the few vegetables that grow in these regions and some serve as food for carnivorous animals, among these animals are: moose, mountain goats, wolf, stoats, reindeer, arctic hare, marmots, polar bear and the musk ox.
Some of these species migrate to warmer areas during the winter, others, like the polar bear itself, develop survival strategies, such as hibernation.Despite being considered an environment with poor vegetation, the Tundra is known for being one of the largest biomes on the planet in terms of territorial extension, occupying almost a fifth of the surface terrestrial. Its importance lies in the fact that it allows the existence of animal life in regions considered inhospitable and unfavorable to the maintenance of living beings.
Types of Tundra
The Tundra biome is divided into two main types:
arctic tundra
The Tunda Arctic is characterized by being located in latitudes close to the Arctic region, receiving little rain and little light.
In this region the typical species are mosses.
alpine tundra
And the alpine tundra, which is found in regions of high altitudes, such as mountain ranges, where the soil is drier. In this area, the predominant species are lichens, creeping herbs and shrubs.
See also: O meaning of polar climate.