1. Polar Grasslands
By: Zack B. and Mike C.

2. Polar Grasslands

3. Climate
Polar Grasslands, better known as Tundra, are a biome that cover 10% of the earth
The are just south of the Arctic Ice Cap
These treeless plains are covered in snow and ice year-round
In Arctic Tundra the winters are long and dark and have little precipitation which is always snow
The only plants that live there are extremely hardy and as a result have a leathery feel and are extremely durable

4. These plants have to adapt to the lack of sunlight and water
They also battle the subzero temperatures and high winds
The temperature range is from -70°-- 12° C but the peak the temperature only lasts for a couple weeks in the year
75%of the year the temperature is below freezing
The average annual temperature is -18° C(Blue Planet Biomes)

5. The average precipitation is 15-25
The average precipitation is Cm of snow because it only snows in the winter
There is a layer of frozen water that is frozen all year (Permafrost) (Miller, P.141)
This permafrost is not only the groundwater in the soil but a layer that wavers from Cm above the “ground”
In the summer much of the permafrost above ground melts but it never gets to be less than 7.5 Cm (Blue Planet Biomes)

6. 95% of this Biome’s carbon is in the soil
Alpine Tundra differs from Arctic in that it is not quite extreme
It is still above the tree line but it is also below the permafrost line
Summers bring melting and the formation of bogs, marshes and ponds
This occurs because the Alpine Tundra receives more direct sunlight
For a few weeks in the summer, wildflowers bloom and herbivores such as elk mountain goats and sheep graze on the land (Miller, P.141)

7. Organisms Plants: Low shrubs, sedges, grasses, mosses
Herbivores: Reindeer, voles, squirrels, lemmings, ptarmigans
Carnivores: Arctic foxes, wolves, polar bears, grizzly bears, snowy owls
Insects: Mosquitoes, flies, arctic bumble bees, grasshoppers

8. Diversity
Other organisms, such as those that live in tropical or temperate climates can’t survive with the permafrost or the cold climate that persist year-round.
Polar grasslands aren’t as diverse as other biomes because their consistently cold climate prevents a variety of creatures from living there

9. Adaptations
Most of the organisms in a polar grassland have some sort of method of keeping in heat, such as fat or fur
Because of the lack of trees or large brush, many consumers can fun fast, fly, or hide in burrows
Some organisms, such as the arctic hare and fox change color with the seasons, and become white in the winter to blend in with the snow (Arctic Animals)

10. Biomass Pyramid 3rd Level Consumer: Polar Bear 2nd Level Consumer:
Snowy Owl,
Arctic Fox
1st Level Consumer: Reindeer,
Lemmings
Producers: Shrubs, Grasses

11. Bibliography
"Tundra." The Free Dictionary Farlex. 16 Oct <
Miller. Living in the Environment. 12th ed.
Bernie, David. "Tundra Animals." 16 Oct <