Characteristic plants of the tundra. Vegetation of the tundra and forest tundra What plants are in the tundra

The tundra zone is in its own way a unique part of the territory of Russia. Its existence is due climate change observed when moving from any point the globe north or south. Landscapes, the composition of flora and fauna take on a different look: closer to the north fewer trees and more lichens, and arctic foxes, reindeer and other animals that are not found in other regions live there.

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The concept of a natural geographical zone

Natural (otherwise, physiographic) zone called such an area in the geographic shell of the Earth, which is characterized by a complex of climatic, geological and geochemical conditions inherent only to it. In addition, the features and composition of the soil, relief, what types of plants and animals are characteristic of a particular area are taken into account. But still, highest value when highlighting and describing the location natural area have climatic conditions.

Zonal changes in climate and landscape can practically be observed through every degree along the meridian or through 120-140 kilometers. If you move from the equator to one of the poles of the Earth, you can arrange the physiographic belts in this way:

Each natural zone corresponds to a certain climatic zone. For example, mixed forests are located in the temperate zone, and permanently wet forests are in the equatorial zone.

The presence of this natural area characteristic of the northern hemisphere, on the map it stretches across two continents, North America and Eurasia, occupying a significant part of the area of Russia. The location of the tundra is determined by its proximity to the arctic deserts and taiga.

Wealth natural resources tundra entails a serious interest in the features already from school. Common themes are Vegetable world" or "Birds of the Tundra" for reports in grade 4, are compiled various tables, schoolchildren prepare messages about the local population or even write interesting stories based on the information received from the lessons on a specific plan.

The tundra is located in the subarctic (or subantarctic) belt between temperate and arctic. This determines the rather harsh living conditions in this area. There is a very long winter, the duration of which reaches seven months, and in a short summer period, snow falls very often and frosts occur. The upper temperature limit is 10 degrees above zero. By virtue of low temperatures evaporates from the earth's surface a large number of water, so the soils in the tundra are very wet. For the same reason, relatively heavy rains are practically not observed.

Another important characteristic in describing the climate of the tundra is a very strong wind. It prevents the formation of deep snow cover, and the ground is often left open. Therefore, the entire living world of the tundra is forced to survive in permafrost conditions: closer to the north, the earth freezes 500 meters. The short summer period does not contribute to the thawing of the soil: on average, about 40 centimeters of land are released from the ice shell. Absorption of moisture in such conditions is difficult, so a significant part of the territory becomes swampy.

The animals and plants of the tundra are very peculiar, since the local nature is determined by harsh climatic conditions, the polar night, which lasts all winter, and the short summer day.

Vegetable world

The main feature of the tundra vegetation lies in the fact that trees cannot grow here: frozen soils do not allow the development of the root system, and a strong wind simply blows away tall plants. Therefore, undersized species are especially common here: various shrubs and shrubs, grasses, mosses and lichens. Closer to the south, where the tundra turns into forest-tundra, some trees may grow, but this is not observed in the rest of the natural zone. This fact influenced the name of this area: translated from Finnish tunturia means "land without forest".

Mosses and lichens

Perhaps the most important in the tundra ecosystem are numerous species of mosses and lichens: cuckoo flax, reindeer moss or reindeer moss, pleurocium and many others. They are an important part of the diet of herbivores and survive in such harsh conditions due to the following factors:

The largest of the lichens of the tundra: reindeer moss. Its height ranges from 9 to 15 cm. This is a real tree in miniature. In the largest specimens, one can notice a striking resemblance to the branches and leaves of a real tree.

Shrubs and herbs

In addition to mosses and lichens, there is a variety of shrubs and shrubs. These are dwarf willows and birches, wild rosemary, blueberries, crowberry. Perennial grasses are widespread: alpine meadow grass, fescue, arctic bluegrass, sedge, rosea rhodiola and cloudberry. Shrubs do not exceed one meter in height. Their branches are not directed upwards, but on the contrary, they spread along the ground. small size leaves reduces the amount of evaporated moisture, and backside the leaf is pubescent.

In the summer, the leaves of the trees and grass are bright green, and closer to autumn, crimson hues appear more and more in their color. Many species are flowering, so yellow, white and reddish flowers on a bright green background make these places especially beautiful in the summer, allowing you to fully enjoy what the tundra looks like.

Animal world of the tundra

tundra fauna are distinguished by considerable diversity, despite the harsh conditions for survival in this natural area. You cannot find here only lizards and other reptiles: the absence of a long warm season does not allow cold-blooded species to live here.

land mammals

Animals in the harsh subarctic climate are forced to adapt to the conditions: they have a thick and dense coat, and birds acquire lush feathers. Among herbivores, the most famous reindeer. Their wide and powerful hooves facilitate long passages in the snow (the length of the migration routes of deer is up to 500 km), and special depressions allow them to rake snow and find reindeer moss or other plants that they feed on.

Powerful antlers allow the deer to successfully defend itself from predators. But in especially harsh and hungry years, they weaken and often become victims of tundra wolves. They live in large packs with a pronounced hunting specialization: there are beaters and attackers. This is a very hardy animal, able to go without food for a week. But if you manage to catch someone, then the feast begins: the wolves sometimes eat the victim with the skin and bones.

Another dangerous predator of the tundra is a wolverine. Outwardly, she resembles a bear and seems very clumsy. But it's not. The body of the wolverine is very flexible, strong legs allow it to develop high speed. At the same time, the wolverine is notable for its endurance: if the victim cannot be caught, then the predator starves it out, chasing it until it collapses from fatigue.

A frequent victim of the wolverine, and sometimes the wolf, are lemmings: small and prolific rodents. They do not hibernate and are constantly looking for food. Deer antlers, bark, bush buds can be food. As lemmings multiply rapidly, habitual habitats are overpopulated, and animals are forced to migrate. Following them, predators also migrate: owls, arctic foxes and others.

The Arctic fox is known for its fur: it is fluffy and long (up to 30 cm). Usually they hunt lemmings and move after them, but sometimes they do not disdain carrion. Arctic fox burrows dug in the hills are used by several generations of predators: making new moves in permafrost is a difficult task. They live in small flocks, helping each other, including caring for cubs whose parents have died.

bird species

Along with mammals, the tundra is inhabited by a significant number of bird species. This is determined by two interrelated factors:

an abundance of wetlands, rivers and lakes;
the presence in these areas of a significant number of insects, especially in summer.

Many birds adjust to seasonality and do not migrate, such as the ptarmigan. In winter, its color allows it to disguise itself in the snow from large predators, and in summer the feathers become motley. At the same time, the partridge relatively rarely rises into the air and lives in holes that it digs in the snow.

Near the swamps lives white crane or Siberian crane. This is an endemic species and is on the verge of extinction, therefore it is listed in the Red Book. The Siberian Crane is a fairly large bird, its body size reaches half a meter in height. Habitat conditions determined the body structure of the white crane: it has the longest beak in comparison with the rest of the genus, and long legs allow it to move on a viscous surface. The Siberian Crane is omnivorous: it can eat both the eggs of other birds and fish, as well as various berries and certain parts of plants.

A serious danger to small mammals and other birds is the white, or polar, owl. She has excellent eyesight, therefore, from an insignificant height (most often she examines the area from high bumps or stones) she detects a possible victim. After a successful hunt, it does not eat the whole prey, leaving everything that has not been eaten by various scavengers. At the same time, an owl can go without food for a long time, but this significantly affects the appearance of offspring.

The abundance of rivers and direct access to the seas and the ocean are the reason why many water birds live in the tundra. Among them special place takes tundra swan- Another rare animal that is under threat of extinction. Tundra swans feed on algae, plants growing near water, and also fish. short duration summer period forces animals to raise young animals in a short time: on average, this happens in 40 days.

Another representative of waterfowl - loon. On land it clumsy bird, easy prey for predators, but it is almost impossible to catch it on the water: thanks to the streamlined body shape and sharp beak, the loon is an excellent diver. This skill allows you not only to get fish for food, but also to avoid many dangers.

waterfowl mammals

Many mammals also live in the water. A thick layer of subcutaneous fat saves them from low temperatures. Some also have thick hair, such as the sea lion. Such protection allows him to dive to a depth of up to 400 meters. AT warm season sea lions often come ashore to bask in the sun. In this case, they move on four limbs.

Seals have become a kind of symbol of the tundra.. They live in coastal areas, which is due to their mode of life. They forage in water and breed on land. The nose and ears of the seal are built in such a way that they close tightly when immersed. An interesting fact is that this animal is able to hold its breath for up to one hour, and this allows you to escape from land-based predators.

Another characteristic of the tundra regions animal - walrus. Its mass ranges from one ton to one and a half, and body dimensions reach up to five meters. Walruses are known for their large and powerful tusks. Them direct appointment may seem surprising: walruses dig the bottom with their tusks in search of shellfish, which make up the bulk of their diet. But if his life is in danger, walruses use tusks as a formidable weapon. In addition, it is a matter of status: the longer the tusk, the more authority the walrus enjoys in its group.

Tundra is a treeless natural zone in the north of Eurasia and North America. It is characterized by a harsh climate and the occurrence of permafrost even at shallow depths. Due to low winter temperatures and frozen ground trees cannot grow here, not even conifers that can withstand extreme Siberian frosts. What animals live in the tundra in such conditions?

Features of the climate of the tundra

The tundra zone corresponds to the subarctic climatic zone. Here, the average January temperatures drop to -40º, and the minimum is even lower. But this is not the case everywhere. For example, on the coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula, where the warm Norwegian current passes, January temperatures rarely drop below -20º. But winter throughout the tundra lasts a very long time.

Summer here is comparable to our autumn. In the hottest month, the temperature rarely exceeds +10º. Even in July, sub-zero temperatures and snow can be observed. And such a summer lasts from the strength of a month and a half.

The main feature of the tundra climate is excessive moisture. But not because there is a lot of precipitation, but because of low temperatures and, as a result, insignificant evaporation. As a result, there are many swamps and lakes. And there are strong winds here, especially on the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

In winter, beyond the Arctic Circle, the sun does not go below the horizon for several days in a row. In summer, it is the turn of the polar day. And to the south, the sun shines so long that the evening dawn is replaced by the morning and there is no real darkness. This phenomenon is called "white nights".

Fauna and flora of the tundra

The vegetation of the tundra is very peculiar. In the south of the zone, where it is warmer, dwarf trees are still found: polar willow, dwarf birch. It is difficult to mistake them for trees, because the thickness of their trunks does not even reach the diameter of a pencil, and they rise only 20-30 cm in height.

The main plants of the tundra are mosses and lichens. They determine the appearance of the tundra landscape. There is enough moisture for them here, and they are unpretentious to heat. However, they grow very slowly.

The most famous tundra plant is moss, or reindeer moss, which is actually not a moss, but a lichen. This is the source of food for reindeer, which is why it got its popular name.

There are a lot of shrubs in the tundra that winter under the snow without shedding their small dense leathery leaves. This allows them to start growing immediately after thawing from under the snow. First of all, these are lingonberries, cranberries, blueberries and cloudberries.

Herbaceous plants include sedge, cotton grass and polar poppy. During the short Arctic summer, they manage to go through a full vegetative cycle.

The vegetation here often forms creeping and cushion-like forms. This allows you to better use the ground heat and save it, protect yourself from strong winds that break stems.

The fauna of the tundra is not rich in species, but quantitatively large enough. What animals live in the tundra permanently? The indigenous inhabitants of the tundra include reindeer, lemmings, arctic foxes, wolves, and birds - a snowy owl and a white partridge. Very rare animals - musk oxen.

Fauna of the Russian tundra

The most numerous animals of the tundra are lemmings. These rodents feed on seeds, fruits and roots of tundra plants. They can multiply very quickly, because they mature within 2-3 months after birth. In a year, they can bring up to 5-6 litters of up to a dozen cubs each. It is clear that there is not enough food for everyone. And lemmings undertake large migrations, moving en masse in search of food.

Although lemmings are not used by humans, animal world the tundra cannot do without these animals. After all, they serve as the main food for valuable game animals - arctic fox, fox.

The white fox and the wolf are also typical representatives of the tundra animals. But if the Arctic fox mainly feeds on lemmings, hunts birds and destroys bird nests, the wolf prefers larger prey. And by this he poses a danger to the reindeer. Wolves hunt in large packs, driving herds of deer to fight off weakened animals or young calves from the herd.

Reindeer - the main animal of the tundra

Reindeer graze on vast expanses of the tundra. They feed not only on reindeer moss, but also on other types of plants. In search of food, they have to roam all the time, because the eaten vegetation is restored for a very long time. In addition, in winter they migrate to the more southern regions of the tundra and to the forest-tundra, since here the snow is looser and it is easier to dig out plants with a hoof. And the leaves of dwarf trees are also edible.

In summer, deer move closer to the coast of the ocean, the wind from which saves them from midges - blood-sucking insects.

The reindeer has long been domesticated by man. It is simply an indispensable animal in the tundra. Their meat, skins are used, deer transport people and goods. No wonder the song says: "And the deer is better ..."

Reindeer wool is very warm, because the hairs in it are hollow, filled with air. Therefore, deer can easily endure very very coldy. And for the inhabitants of the tundra, clothing made from deer skins is also necessary.

In North America, caribou deer live in this zone.

tundra birds

The fauna of the tundra is also represented by birds. The most famous eider is a large sea duck. It is famous for its exceptionally warm down, which lines the nest and covers the eggs. This gray down is highly valued, so it is harvested. From one nest, from which the chicks have already left, you can get 15-20 grams of pure fluff.

The white partridge is also a permanent resident of the tundra. The name suggests that in winter its plumage turns white, which allows the bird to be invisible against the background of snow. She eats plant foods, and the chicks are also insectivorous.

The snowy owl mainly preys on lemmings. And in the summer, she is a danger to birds, as chicks are a good addition to her diet.

Summer paradise for waterfowl

In summer, the endless expanses of the tundra are literally saturated with water. These are melted snow waters, and numerous lakes and swamps, and rivers. Therefore, the fauna of the tundra is replenished with a huge number of waterfowl. They find both algae and insect larvae in the water, and they do not refuse the insects themselves.

Geese, ducks, loons, sandpipers, swans - that's far from full list birds feeding and hatching in the far north. And in autumn they take their chicks south to warmer climes.

Conservation of tundra animals

The flora and fauna of the tundra is very fragile, because it takes not years, but decades to restore it in harsh conditions. Therefore, he needs protection.

The Red Book of Russia aims to protect flora and fauna. Animals of the tundra that are included in it:

bighorn sheep putoransky;
bighorn sheep Chukchi;
polar bear;
white goose;
white-billed loon;
goose white;
goose;
barnacle;
red-throated goose;
black goose Pacific;
small swan;
American swan;
pink seagull;
Siberian Crane, or White Crane.

To protect the living nature of the tundra, reserves have been created: Kandalaksha, Lapland, Taimyr, and others.

The tundra zone is located in the north of our country in a strip without gaps from the Kola Peninsula to Chukotka. It occupies 14% of the country's territory. Vegetation in the tundra is not easy. Winter lasts 7-8 months, and summer is short and cold. In summer, the soil warms up only a few centimeters. From this it follows that, in the tundra, only the uppermost layer of soil and the lowest layer of air, near the ground, are more favorable for the existence of plants. Then it is not surprising that most of the tundra vegetation is very low, they are flattened on the ground, and their roots grow mainly in the upper soil layer and hardly move into the depths.

A typical tundra is a treeless area with a stunted and not always continuous flora. Mosses and lichens underlie it; against their background, stunted flowering plants- shrubs, shrubs, herbs. There are no trees in the natural tundra - the circumstances of existence here are too harsh for them. Only in the very south of the tundra region, in more suitable climatic conditions, can one come across individual trees.

Highly important role mosses and lichens fill the vegetation cover of the tundra. There are many types of them here, and they often form a continuous carpet over large spaces. Both mosses and lichens perfectly tolerate the harsh conditions of the tundra. The soil layer as a source of water and nutrients for mosses and lichens is almost not required - they get everything they need in the main from the atmosphere. They do not have full-fledged roots, but only thin filamentous offspring are formed, their main purpose is to attach plants to the soil. After all, mosses and lichens, due to their low altitude, make the best use of the warmest layer of air in summer.

The key mass of flowering plants in the tundra are shrubs, dwarf shrubs and perennial herbs. Shrubs differ from shrubs only in smaller dimensions - their height is almost the same as that of grass. Despite this, their branches become lignified, covered with a thin layer of protective cork tissue on the outside and carry wintering buds. Among these plants, you can often find some dwarf species of willows (herbaceous willow), wild rosemary, blueberry, crowberry, dwarf birch.

Almost all herbaceous plants tundra perennial. Some cereals are found among them, for example: squat fescue, alpine meadow grass, arctic bluegrass, alpine foxtail, etc. You can find hard sedge and other sedges. Legumes are also represented by several samples: umbrella astragalus, obscure kopeechnik, dirty hollywort. However, most plant species belong to the so-called forbs - representatives of various families of dicotyledonous plants. From this group of plants, one can single out the viviparous mountaineer, Eder's mytnik, bathing suits - European and Asian, alpine cornflower, Rhodiola rosea, geraniums - white-flowered and forest.

Below we will take a closer look at some of the plants.

dwarf birch or yernik.

The height of the dwarf birch is small - rarely more than 70 centimeters. It grows not like a tree, but like a tree-like shrub. Its branches do not rise high, and in most cases they simply spread out on the ground. The width of its sheet is often longer, and the shape of the sheet is rounded.

Blueberry, or gonobobel.

This is a small shrub. A sign that distinguishes this plant is foliage with a bluish tint. Deciduous shrub. Blueberry flowers are inconspicuous, soft, white, and sometimes pink. Blueberry fruits are bluish, spherical berries with a bluish coating.

Cloudberry.

Raspberries are the closest relative of cloudberries. Dioecious plant fruits consist of several small juicy fruitlets, connected to each other into one. Each fruit is a bit like a tiny cherry: the outside is pulp, and the inside is a stone. The fruits contain about 3-6% sugar and citric acid.

Moss lichen or reindeer moss

This lichen is one of the largest, it can reach 10-15 cm in height. It resembles a miniature tree - it has a thicker "trunk" growing from the ground, and small thin winding "branches".

The growing season of plants in the territory lasts only two months a year. Despite almost year-round frost, the biome thrives and surprises with a variety of flora. The word tundra comes from the Finnish "tunturia", which means treeless lands. Harsh winds are present here, and most plants grow in groups, which forms a natural protective barrier.

There are over 400 plant species that are found in the tundra, but only a few of them grow all year round. Plant growth issues are directly related to the tundra soil. There is a thick layer of soil under the ice that rarely thaws, so plants with the smallest roots are able to withstand the climatic conditions of the tundra.

The fact that the plant world is present in the tundra plays a significant role in the conservation of other life forms. As the plants die and decay, many organisms use them to feed themselves during the long winter months.

Bearberry

Bearberry or bearberry, bear's ear, bear's ears is not really a bearberry, although "clubfoot" have been seen eating it. Red berries and green leaves attract owls and birds that fly to the tundra. The plant is uniquely adapted to the climatic conditions of the tundra, as it grows low to the ground. This is not quite a ground cover plant, because it has a small height. Berries on bearberry can be present throughout the year.

Ledum - an amazing small shrub plant with slightly curved leaves and a stem resembling hairy legs, which helps the plant to keep warm in the harsh conditions of the tundra. To unusual features plant can be attributed to the fact that tundra animals do not eat it due to essential oils with a strong odor and poisonous properties.

diamond sheet

Diamond leaf is a plant from the willow family, but it has significant differences from its other representatives. These are low willows growing close to the ground. Like rosemary, it has a semblance of hair that covers its stems and roots, and also retains heat. Diamond leaf is an edible plant consumed by both humans and animals as it is rich in calcium and other vitamins. The plant is very flexible and grows singly, it cannot be found in groups of plants protected from harsh winds.

Arctic moss is the most common tundra flora and is not very different from the moss found in other biomes. It can grow on the surface of the earth, but prefers water. The plant does not have a root system, and rhizoids are present in it. The moss is also covered with small leaves, which occupy one cell in thickness and make it easy to provide for oneself at the expense. Arctic moss is the main food of many, as it is rich in nutrients and grows throughout the year. When he dies, he becomes an important source nutrients for other organisms. It is also an important food for birds during their migration. Arctic moss is of interest to researchers because it shows the natural evolution of life in harsh climates.

The arctic willow is found in the tundra region of North America, which consists of northern Alaska and northern Canada. The plant is shrubby, reaches a height of 15-20 cm and grows in a carpet.

Caribou moss grows in arctic and northern regions around the world. It can be found on the ground and rocks, reaching a height of 10 centimeters. When there is no light or water, caribou moss goes into hibernation, but after a long period of dormancy it can start growing again.

Saxifrage crested has thick main stems and several straight flower stems, 3-15 cm long. About 2-8 flowers are present on each stem. The flower has five white petals. The plant can be found on rocky slopes from Alaska to the Cascades, the Olympic Mountains, and northwest Oregon.

Lumbago

Pasque belongs to the ranunculaceae family. Plant height 5-40 cm. Each stem has one flower with 5-8 petals. Flower color varies from lavender to almost white. It grows on the south side of the slopes and is found from the northwestern United States to northern Alaska. It is also the national flower of South Dakota.

The flora of the tundra natural zone is not rich. First of all, this is due to the harsh climatic conditions. Tundra landscapes can be swampy, peaty and rocky. fertile soil, ideal for plant development, is not here. Grows in swampy areas different kinds moss. Among the mosses there are whole fields of lingonberries, cloudberries and blueberries. By autumn, many fruits ripen in these berry fields. Plants similar to moss grow on peaty and stony soils of the tundra. One of these yagel. This plant covers vast areas of the tundra. Moss is so abundant that entire herds of wild deer feed on it all year round.

In the tundra there are not only mosses and reindeer mosses. Here, in places well protected from the strong and, in the valleys of rivers or lakes, you can find large meadows where various grasses reach a height of half a meter.

The tundra is also characterized by the complete absence of forests. Of the trees, only polar willow and dwarf birch are found. These trees are more like shrubs. The dwarf birch is so small that its thin twisted trunk practically lies and hides in moss or reindeer moss. Only small branches with miniature leaves are raised up. The polar willow is even smaller than the birch. In times of snowfall, all its branches are covered with snow.

Tundra animals

The most numerous inhabitants of the tundra belong to the class of birds. Especially in summer, a large number of geese, ducks and flies here. In lakes and rivers, they look for their food, mainly insects, plants and small fish. There are so many birds in the tundra that some of its reservoirs either turn white from geese or turn black from ducks. Everywhere you can hear the cries and cackling of birds.

In summer, the tundra is teeming with midges and mosquitoes. They rush through the air like clouds, attack animals and people, and do not give them rest either at night or during the day. To get rid of annoying insects, people light fires or dress in special suits.

During severe winters, most of the birds fly to the southern regions. Not so rarely numerous herds of reindeer rush through here. With the help of their hooves, they dig moss from under the ground. Sometimes you can see Arctic foxes, musk oxen, lemmings and stoats here. Occasionally, a snowy owl catches the eye in the tundra. Her white color, and therefore partridges and lemmings, which she hunts, simply do not notice her against the backdrop of snow.

Most of the animals of the tundra are covered with dense plumage or wool. Their winter color tends to turn white, which helps them hide from enemies or sneak up on their prey.