Tundra Ecosystem Presentation

What are the main characteristics of your ecosystem?

Question 1

The tundra has low precipitation (less than 10 inches per year) and dry winds. These conditions make the tundra a desert-like climate. One unique characteristic of the tundra is permafrost, which is ground that is permanently frozen. The tundra is also the coldest out of all of the ecosystems, and it also has a very low diversity of organisms.

Where are these types of ecosystems located?

Question 2

The tundra is located at the top of the world, near the North Pole. This ecosystem is enormous. It covers a fifth of the earth's surface.

What types of animals and wildlife are within this area?

Question 3

When compared to other ecosystems, there aren't many animals or wildlife in this ecosystem. However there are caribou, arctic hares, squirrels, arctic foxes, wolves, polar bears, various species of fish, and birds such as ravens and falcons.

Discuss the effects of global climate patterns and changes that occur within your ecosystem

Question 4

Warmer temperatures and thawing soils may be driving an increase in emissions of carbon dioxide from Alaskan tundra to the atmosphere. More carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere will accelerate climate warming, which, in turn, could lead to the release of even more carbon dioxide from these soils.

What are the types of human interference within your ecosystem that negatively contribute to global climate change?

Question 5

Exploration of oil, gas, minerals and construction of pipelines and roads can cause physical disturbances towards the habitats in the tundra. Oil spills can kill wildlife and significantly damage tundra ecosystems. Buildings and roads put heat and pressure on the permafrost, causing it to melt.

Are there different worldviews based on your ecosystem?

Question 6

There are some different worldviews on the tundra. Some people believe that we should be melting the permafrost to be able to reach the valuable ores underneath. However many other people believe that the permafrost needs to be saved, because if it's melted, the water will greatly elevate, causing many problems.

If your ecosystem were to suddenly eradicate, what sort of changes will we see within a regional, national, or global scale?

Question 7

It would be quite hard to not see the changes. On a global/national scale, there would be more methane released into the air, which therefore would speed up the global warming process. On a regional scale there would be so many forms of life that would be affected or in some cases, extinct by this. The next generation would have a very difficult time surviving.

References

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/tundra-biome/

https://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/tundra.html

https://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/issue/tundra-life-in-the-polar-extremes/life-in-the-tundra

https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2586/alaska-tundra-source-of-early-winter-carbon-emissions/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/tundra-threats/