Lecture 12- Tundra Species and Disturbances

Question 1

Tundra diversity is _______

Answer 1

Low

Question 2

What is the largest arctic ungulate?

Answer 2

Muskoxen

Question 3

Where did the muskoxen first evolve?

Answer 3

First evolved in Asia and arrived in NA during pleistocene

Question 4

Muskoxen graze on _____ and fill role of ____

Answer 4

-Variety of habitats
-Multiple species in warmer areas

Question 5

Barren ground caribou population is ____ than woodland caribou

Answer 5

Larger

Question 6

Barren ground caribou undertake large _____

Answer 6

Annual migrations

Question 7

What are some threats to barren ground caribou herds?

Answer 7

-Increased pressure for arctic oil exploration
-Over hunting
-Climate change (shifts in vegetation, shifts timing of greenup, heat stress)

Question 8

Tundra carnivore prey predominately on ____

Answer 8

Small mammals

Question 9

Wolves can hunt ____ and _____

Answer 9

-Caribou
-Muskoxen

Question 10

Tundra carnivores must consume ____ amounts of prey to stay warm

Answer 10

Large

Question 11

Polar bears can leave _____ on shore for scavengers

Answer 11

Prey

Question 12

_______ are the basis of tundra trophic levels

Answer 12

Tundra rodents

Question 13

What are some examples of tundra rodents?

Answer 13

-Ground squirrels
-Lemmings

Question 14

The tundra is a ______ habitat

Answer 14

Migratory bird

Question 15

Huge populations of migratory birds can affect ____

Answer 15

The health of tundra (snow geese melting permafrost)

Question 16

What are biocrusts?

Answer 16

Community of microorganisms

Question 17

What microorganisms are present in initial and later biocrusts?

Answer 17

Initial- cyanobacteria, microalgae
Later- Lichens, mosses, fungi

Question 18

Tundra plants are limited by?

Answer 18

-Water availability
-High winds
-Short growing seasons

Question 19

What type of vegetation is present in the low arctic?

Answer 19

-Taller shrubs
-Cotton grasses
-Ericaceous shrubs

Question 20

What type of vegetation is present in the high arctic?

Answer 20

-Dwarf shrubs
-Cushion plants
-Mosses and lichens

Question 21

The succession in tundras is similar to _____

Answer 21

Boreal forests succession

Question 22

Describe primary succession in the tundra

Answer 22

-Bare rock colonized by bacteria, lichens
-Dwarf plants colonize
-Small shrubs and grasses
-No development of trees
-Small peatlands may develop in wet areas

Question 23

Disturbances in the tundra are generally tied to ______

Answer 23

Climate and hydrology

Question 24

What are some responses to disturbances in the succession of tundras?

Answer 24

-Growth and erosion of ice wedges
-Tundra fires
-Pattern in snowmelt

Question 25

Fire frequency in tundras are ______

Answer 25

Highly variable

Question 26

Fire in the tundras is dependent on?

Answer 26

Localized moisture

Question 27

What does fire do to tundras?

Answer 27

-Burning equals an increase in soil temperature -Melting of permafrost -Increase in soil microbial activity

Question 28

What effects does climate change have on tundras?

Answer 28

-Long term artificial warming -Shrubification of the tundra -Advancing treeline from the south -Melting of the permafrost