cold environments

Question 1

what is the climate like in polar environments

Answer 1

Polar areas are very cold , normally below freezing winters tend to drop to -40 degrees Celsius and can reach -90 degrees Celsius

Question 2

describe the climate in tundra

Answer 2

tundra areas are also cold. warm months only reach a maximum of 10 degrees calciols while winters can plunge to -50 degrees

Question 3

describe the soil in polar areas

Answer 3

ice sheets cover polar areas so no soil is exposed

Question 4

describe the soil in tundra

Answer 4

beneath the thin soil is a layer of permafrost, holding trapped greenhouse gases

Question 5

describe the plants in polar areas

Answer 5

the plants in polar areas have fewer plants- litchens and mosses grow on rocks, and greases grow on the coast

Question 6

describe the plants in tundra areas

Answer 6

in tundra areas, hardy shrubs grasses, mosses and lichens are common. Small, short trees may grow in warmer areas

Question 7

describe animals in polar areas

Answer 7

there are relatively few species in these ecosystems

polar bears, penguins whales and seals are found in polar areas

Question 8

describe the people in polar areas

Answer 8

polar areas are mostly uninhabitated, nut the artic has some indigenous residents and a few scientists work in antartica.

Question 9

describe the animals in polar areas

Answer 9

there are relatively few species in these ecosystems

polar bears, penguins whales and seals are found in polar areas

lemmings, wolves and reindeer live in tundra areas

Question 10

describe the people in polar areas

Answer 10

polar areas are mostly uninhabitated, nut the artic has some indigenous residents and a few scientists work in antartica.

Question 11

describe the people in tundra areas

Answer 11

tundra areas are home to many indeginoeus people, as well as oil and gas workers in larger towns

Question 12

describe the biotic factors in cold environments

Answer 12

the cold climate causes plants to grow slowly and to decompose slowlt when they die, so plant cover is low. this means that the soil is relatively low in nutrients, further limiting plant growth

herbivores that rely on plants to survive must migrate to areas where plants are able to grow. carnivores have to follow herbivores

Question 13

what happens in tundra areas in the summer

Answer 13

in summer, when the tundra has greater plant cover, the surface plants absorb heat from the sun, preventing the permafrost below from thawing. the permafrost provides water for plants

Question 14

how can changes to one component of the ecosystem have knock on effects

Answer 14

if humans trample lots of plants, the soil is exposed to sunlight and warms up. this may thaw the permafrost, saturating soil and preventing plant growth. with fewer plants to eat, animals will struggle to find enough food to survive. melting permafrost also releases greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming

Question 15

how have the plants and animals adapted to the cold dry climates

Answer 15

plants in tundra environments have adapted to survive the extreme cold and strong winds. they must also endure the dry winter conditions when all moisture is frozen , and wet summer conditions when the top layer of soil thaws and the ground becomes boggy and waterlogged

Question 16

describe the adaptations of plants in tundra

Answer 16

most plants become dormant to survive the cold , dark, winters

plants are low-growing and round-shaped to provide protection from the wind

most plants have shallow roots because of the layers of permafrost beneath the soil layer.

leaves are generally small to limit the amount of moisture lost through transpiration

the warmer wetter summer is very short, so most plants have adapted to have a growing season of just 50-60 days

many plants reproduce using underground runners or bulbs to cope with the cold and because the growing season is short

Question 17

describe the adaptations of animals in artic

Answer 17

animals in cold environments tend to be well insulated- they might have thick thur like polar bears or a layer of blubber like seals. this reduces the amount of energy they have to use to keep warm

some animals hibernate to conserve energy and to survive the winter

animals that don’t hibernate have adapted to survive on the limited food sources available

many birds migrate to warmer areas for the winter

many animals grow white winter coats for camofluage- this helps predators to sneak up on their prey, and helps prey to hide in the snow

Question 18

describe the biodiversity in cold environments

Answer 18

cold environments have very low biodiversity- there are fewer species of plants and animals in cold environments than most other environments

low biodiversity means when when the population of one species changes it can affect the population of dependant species.

global warming is causing some species to move towards the poles, where it is colder, in response to temperature rises in their natural habitat. species already adapted to polar environments can’t go anywhere colder, so are at risk of decline or extinction if climate change causes the polar areas to warm up too much.

Question 19

how is a cold environment interdependant

Answer 19

indigenous people depend on animals such as seals and whales for, food clothing and heating. the snow and ice are used in constructing traditional shelters.

plants from dense cushions on the ground to retain moisture and heat and to provide shelter from the strong winds

the bright red berries of the bearberry attract owls and other birds, which eat the berries and therefore disperse the seeds

arctic birds use moss to provide warmth and shelter in their nests

Question 20

why should wilderness areas be protected

Answer 20

polar and tundra regions are fragile environments. they develop extremely slowly and take many years to recover from the damage inflicted by people, such as pollution, mining, or transportation. it is said that even a footprint in the tundra will last for 10 years

scientists need to conduct research in unspoiled environments to understand global processes of change

some wilderness areas are inhabited by indigenous people

cold environments provide important habitats for many species of plants, animals, and birds such as penguins, polar bears, and the arctic fox.

there is a global moral responsibility to retain some wilderness areas that reflect the natural world without human interference.