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Distribution of Arctic & Alpine Tundra
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- The Arctic tundra forms a continuous band just below the polar ice cap and above the tree line across the Northern Hemisphere. It stretches across the northern edges of Canada, Alaska, European Russia, Siberia, and the Arctic Ocean’s island chains.
- In contrast, tundra in the Southern Hemisphere is minimal, as most of the South Pole is surrounded by ocean. Alpine tundra is found at high elevations above the tree line in mountainous regions. Since mountains exist at various latitudes, alpine tundra experiences noticeable fluctuations in temperature between day and night.
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Flora and Fauna of Arctic & Alpine Tundra
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- Typical vegetation of arctic tundra is cotton, grass, sedges, dwarf heath, willows, birches, and lichens. Animals of tundra are reindeer, musk ox, arctic hare, caribous, lemmings, and squirrel.
- They are protected from chillness by the presence of thick cuticle and epidermal hair. Mammals of the tundra region have large body sizes and small tail and ear to avoid the loss of heat from the surface. The body is covered with fur for insulation.
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Arctic tundra (in dark grey) and Alpine tundra (in grey)