Tundra landscape. Natural zone tundra: description

The Tundra is where the taiga ends but Antarctica does not yet begin, this strip is the Tundra. Permafrost reigns in the tundra, there is virtually no vegetation here, and the tundra is endowed with many other interesting facts, in general, see below. Tundra is located a little further north. ( 11 beautiful photos of the tundra)

In general, the area of the tundra is about 3 million square km, and the width of the tundra reaches 500 km. The territory of the tundra extends not only in, but also in other countries, for example in. But we will look exclusively at the Russian tundra.

The exclusive features of the tundra are permafrost, here the soil freezes up to 160 cm in depth, and the tundra is also subject to constant winds of monstrous strength. In Russia, the tundra has allocated itself a territory of 15% of the entire vast country. Some part of the tundra is even located on. Swampy tundra predominates in Siberia.

The tundra is almost always an endless plain with a large number of lakes, swamps and rivers on it. Mountain tundras are rare. In general, tundras can be divided into 5 types: flat, swampy, sandy, rocky, mountainous.

As for the climate, the climate here is very harsh, the temperature in winter can reach -50 ° C, and this despite the fact that strong winds blow here that simply blow away all vegetation from the ground. The thickness of the snow in general is small, again due to strong winds the snow is blown away, and in some places you can find real snowdrifts of several meters.

In the tundra zone, in principle, there is no summer, well, there is, but it kind of connects with autumn, let’s say the warm period in the tundra begins in May and ends in September. In May, the snow in the tundra is already melting, and the warmest period begins, it lasts about 2 months, during which time all the plants bloom leaves and lay seeds at an accelerated pace. And in October, winter is already in full swing here.

The temperature of the warmest month in “summer” is +15 °C at best. Let's talk about vegetation in the tundra; there is no need to even talk about any forests in the tundra; due to the strong wind and harsh climate, trees do not grow here; you can rarely find “dwarf birch”. The flora of the tundra is very sparse, and its height rarely exceeds 50 cm in height.

The bulk of the vegetation is the well-known lichens and mosses. The predominant product is moss, which is popularly known as reindeer food. You can also find, but less frequently, small, not picky herbs. If you look at the tundra from an airplane, you can only see a gray-brown cover underlying the entire territory.

The fauna in the tundra is also not rich, since there is nothing to eat and, accordingly, there are also few animals. Only reindeer (small in size), foxes, bighorn sheep, wolves, small rodents, and hares live here. Several species of birds live: snow bunting, snowy owl, ptarmigan, etc.

Currently, the Russian government is somewhat concerned about the tundra ecosystem; the fact is that oil pipelines pass through the tundra; naturally, from time to time they “break” and a large amount of oil ends up in the soil, because it is quite problematic for repairmen to get to the leak site. And other factors of human life have a negative impact on the life of the tundra.

Tundra is a treeless flat hill, translated from Finnish.

Tundra is an area characterized by permafrost, short summers and long winters.

Geographical location

The tundra is located in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth, being in the northern part of the Eurasian continent, North America, and the islands that are part of the subpolar geographical zone.

They occupy almost 5% of all land on the planet. The borders are the Arctic - from the south, the Arctic deserts - in the north.

Characteristics of the tundra

The tundra is represented by three subspecies, which differ in vegetation:

Forest-tundra or southern, where willows, berries, mushrooms, shrubs, represented by dwarf birch and bushy alder, grow;
Arctic, where swamps and wetlands, mosses and lichens predominate;
Subarctic or typical average, which is characterized by mosses, shrubs, lichens, and berries.

tundra in summer photo

The Arctic tundra is located between the North Pole and the taiga. Winter here is very harsh; it differs in that the water always freezes, and the entire territory resembles a desert. In summer, the soil can only heat up from 40 to 60 centimeters deep. Summer is dull and gray, greenery does not appear everywhere, and from a distance it resembles spots.

In the southern tundra, summers are somewhat longer, and this contributes to deeper warming of the earth. Therefore, shrubs, mosses and lichens can grow on them. Summer is also characterized by the opening of rivers and lakes, which are surrounded by lush and colorful vegetation.

dwarf birch trees in the tundra photo

Somewhere in the middle of summer, a polar day may occur (the sun does not set below the horizon), lasting several months. During this period, herbaceous plants bloom here, shrubs and small trees are covered with leaves. Their height is no more than 50 centimeters.

Tundra climate

The climate of the tundra is subarctic, which is characterized by the absence of summer as a season. When it arrives, it can last only a few weeks and is cool, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, with frosts occurring at night.

In summer there is slightly more precipitation than in winter. The average annual precipitation in the tundra is 200 - 400mm. Moisture significantly exceeds evaporation, which contributes to the formation of wetlands. Winter lasts a very long time and is characterized by cold weather. The temperature drops to -50 degrees. Snow cover in the tundra lies from October to June.

Soils

The area is represented by several types:

Rocky;
Peaty;
Swampy.

The soils are waterlogged, therefore they are represented by arctic tundra (north) and gelatin tundra (center and south). The gelation process is very active, so the soils have a bluish and green tint.

There is very little humus in the soils, since few shrubs and plants grow on the surface, the processes of humification and mineralization occur very slowly. Therefore, the peat layer is very thin.

Among other features of tundra soils, it is worth noting the impossibility of finding soil horizons, since they are constantly moving, which is associated with the following processes:

Swelling;
Outpourings.

The permafrost becomes larger at the northern borders. The soils are acidic and lack minerals and nutrients.

Flora and fauna of the tundra

The plant world here is sparse. These are mainly mosses and lichens, shrubs. Dwarf trees (birch, alder, willow) are found on the southern border of the tundra. But flowers that have survived the harsh winter bloom in summer (buttercups, polar poppies, wild rosemary, forget-me-nots). It’s beautiful in August and September - the berries ripen, and the greenery changes its color to red, then to yellow.

tundra plants photo

Where the taiga has already ended, but the Arctic has not yet begun, the tundra zone stretches. This territory occupies more than three million square meters and is about 500 kilometers wide. What does the permafrost zone look like? There are almost no plants, very few animals. This mysterious territory holds many amazing secrets.

Tundra zone

The tundra zone stretches along the shores of the northern seas. Everywhere you look, a cold plain stretches for thousands of kilometers, completely devoid of forest. The polar night lasts two months. Summer is very short and cold. And even when it does, frosts often occur. Cold, sharp winds sweep across the tundra every year. For many days in a row in winter, a blizzard rules the plains.

The top layer of soil thaws only 50 centimeters deep during the cold, unkind summer. Below this level lies a layer of permafrost that never thaws. Neither melt nor rain water penetrates to depth. The tundra zone is a huge number of lakes and swamps, the soil is wet everywhere, because due to low temperatures water evaporates extremely slowly. The climate in the tundra is very harsh, creating almost unbearable conditions for all living things. However, life here is somewhat more diverse than in the Arctic.

Flora

What does the tundra look like? Its surface for the most part consists of very large bumps. Their size reaches a height of up to 14 meters and a width of up to 15 meters. The sides are steep, they consist of peat, the inside is almost always frozen. Between the hillocks, at intervals of up to 2.5 meters, there are swamps, the so-called Samoyed ersei. The sides of the mounds are covered with mosses and lichens; cloudberries are often found immediately. Their body is formed by mosses and tundra shrubs.

Closer to the rivers, to the south, where tundra forests can be observed, the hummocky zone turns into sphagnum peat bogs. Cloudberry, bagoong, cranberry, gonobol, and birch dwarf grow here. extend deep into the forest zone. To the east of the Taman Ridge, mounds are found very rarely, only in low, swampy places.

Tundra subzones

The flat regions of Siberia are occupied by peaty tundra. Mosses and tundra shrubs stretch in a continuous film over the surface of the earth. Mostly moss covers the ground, but cloudberry clearings can also be found. This type of tundra is especially common between Pechora and Timan.

In high places, where water does not stagnate, but the wind blows freely, there is fissured tundra. The dry, cracked soil is broken up into small areas with nothing but frozen ground. Grains, shrubs and saxifrage can hide in cracks.

For those who are interested in what the tundra looks like, it will be useful to know that there is also fertile soil here. The herbaceous-shrub tundra is rich in shrubs; mosses and lichens are almost absent.

The most characteristic species of this natural area are moss moss and lichen, thanks to which the tundra is colored light gray. In addition, standing out as spots against the background of reindeer moss, small shrubs huddle close to the ground. The southern regions boast small islands of forest. Dwarf species of willows and birch dwarf are quite common.

Animal world

The way the tundra looks does not in any way affect the number of animals permanently living in this region. One of the common inhabitants of the tundra, the rough-legged bird nests directly on the ground or rocks. The white-tailed eagle, an indigenous inhabitant of the tundra, lives on the seashore. Found in the northernmost areas of the region, the gyrfalcon is the most common bird in the region. All birds hunt partridges and small rodents.

This natural area is home to not only birds, but also furry ones, and of different sizes. So, of the largest, it is the species most adapted to climate conditions. In Europe it is almost extinct, with representatives remaining only in Norway. Deer are also rare on the Kola Peninsula. They were replaced by domestic reindeer.

In addition to humans, deer also have a natural enemy - the wolf. These predators have a much thicker undercoat than their forest counterparts. In addition to these animals, polar bears, musk oxen, arctic foxes, Parry's ground squirrels, lemmings, white hares and wolverines are found in the tundra.

Climate

The climate of the tundra is very harsh. The temperature in short summers does not rise above 10 degrees, the average temperature in winter is no higher than minus 50. A thick layer of snow falls by September, only increasing the layers every month.

Despite the fact that the sun barely appears above the horizon throughout the long winter night, there is no impenetrable darkness reigning here. What does the tundra look like on a polar night? Even during moonless periods there is enough light. After all, there is dazzling white snow all around, perfectly reflecting the light of distant stars. In addition, the northern lights provide excellent lighting, painting the sky with different colors. At some times, thanks to him, it becomes as bright as day.

What does the tundra look like in summer and winter?

In general, summer can hardly be called warm, because the average temperature does not rise above 10 degrees. In such months, the sun does not leave the sky at all, trying to have time to warm the frozen earth at least a little. But what does the tundra look like in summer?

In the relatively warm months, the tundra is covered with water, turning vast areas into huge swamps. The natural tundra zone is covered in lush color at the very beginning of summer. Considering that it is very short, all plants strive to complete the development cycle as soon as possible.

In winter there is a very thick layer of snow on the ground. Since almost the entire territory lies beyond the Arctic Circle, the tundra natural zone is deprived of sunlight for most of the year. Winter lasts a long time, much longer than in other areas of the globe. There are no adjacent seasons in this territory, that is, neither spring nor autumn.

Wonders of the Tundra

The most famous miracle is, of course, the northern lights. On a dark January night, stripes of bright colors suddenly light up against the black background of the velvet sky. Green and blue columns, interspersed with pink and red, glide across the sky. The dance of radiance is similar to the flashes of a giant fire reaching the sky. People who saw the northern lights for the first time will never again be able to forget this stunning spectacle, which has captivated the minds of people for thousands of years.

Our ancestors believed that lights in the sky brought happiness as they were a manifestation of the celebration of the gods. And if the gods have a holiday, gifts will certainly go to people. Others thought that the radiance was the wrath of the god of fire, angry at the human race, so they expected only troubles and even misfortunes from the multi-colored heavenly spray.

Whatever your opinion, it is worth seeing the Northern Lights. If such an opportunity ever arises, it is better to be in the tundra in January, when the northern lights flare up in the sky especially often.

The natural tundra zone is located mainly beyond the Arctic Circle and is limited to the north by arctic (polar) deserts and to the south by forests. It is located in the subarctic zone between 68 and 55 degrees north latitude. In those small areas where cold air masses from the Arctic Ocean are blocked by mountains in the summer—these are the valleys of the Yana, Kolyma, and Yukon rivers—the taiga rises into the subarctic. One should separately distinguish between mountain tundra, which is characterized by a change in nature with the height of the mountains.

The word "tundra" comes from the Finnish tunturi, which means "treeless, bare upland." In Russia, the tundra occupies the coast of the seas of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent territories. Its area is about 1/8 of the entire area of Russia. In Canada, the tundra natural zone includes a significant part of the northern territories, which are practically uninhabited. In the United States, tundra occupies most of the state of Alaska.

Brief description

The natural tundra zone occupies about 8-10% of the entire territory of Russia;
The tundra has a very short summer with an average temperature in the warmest month, July, from +4 degrees in the north to +11 degrees in the south;
Winter in the tundra is long and very harsh, accompanied by strong winds and snowstorms;
Cold winds blow throughout the year: in summer - from the Arctic Ocean, and in winter - from the cooled mainland of Eurasia;
The tundra is characterized by permafrost, that is, the upper level of the ground frozen through, part of which thaws only a few tens of centimeters in the summer.
In the tundra zone there is very little precipitation - only 200-300 mm per year. However, soils in the tundra are widely waterlogged due to impermeable permafrost at shallow surface depths and poor evaporation due to low temperatures even with strong winds;
The soils in the tundra are usually infertile (due to humus being blown away by the winds) and are very swampy due to freezing in the harsh winter and only partial warming up in the warm season.

Tundra is a natural area of Russia

As everyone knows from school lessons, nature and climate on the territory of Russia have a clearly defined zonation of processes and phenomena. This is due to the fact that the country's territory extends from north to south and is mainly dominated by flat terrain. Each natural zone is characterized by a certain ratio of heat and moisture. Natural areas are sometimes called landscape or geographic.

The tundra occupies the territory adjacent to the coast of the Arctic Ocean and is the most severe inhabited natural zone in Russia. To the north of the natural tundra zone there are only arctic deserts, and to the south the forest zone begins.

The following are represented on the plains of Russia: natural areas, starting from the north:

Arctic deserts;
Forest-steppe
Steppes
Semi-deserts
Deserts
Subtropics.

And in the mountainous regions of Russia, altitudinal zonation is clearly expressed.

Natural areas of Russia on the map

The tundra is characterized by harsh climatic conditions, relatively low rainfall and the fact that its territory is located primarily in Arctic Circle. Let's list the facts about the tundra:

The natural tundra zone is located north of the taiga zone;
Mountain tundras are found in the mountains of Scandinavia, the Urals, Siberia, Alaska and Northern Canada;
Tundra zones stretch in a strip 300-500 km wide along the northern coasts of Eurasia and North America;
The climate of the tundra is subarctic, it is quite harsh and is characterized by long winters with polar nights (when the sun practically does not appear above the horizon) and short summers. A particularly harsh climate is observed in the continental tundra regions;
Winter in the tundra lasts 6-9 months a year, it is accompanied by strong winds and low air temperatures;
Frosts in the tundra sometimes reach minus 50 degrees Celsius;
The polar night in the tundra lasts 60-80 days;
Snow lies in the tundra from October to June, its height in the European part is 50-70 centimeters, and in Eastern Siberia and Canada 20-40 cm. In winter, snowstorms are frequent in the tundra;
Summer in the tundra is short, with a long polar day;
August in the tundra is considered the warmest month of the year: positive average daily temperatures of up to +10-15 degrees are noted, but frosts are possible on any day of summer;
Summer is characterized by high air humidity, frequent fogs and drizzling rains;
Tundra vegetation includes 200-300 species of flowering plants and about 800 species of mosses and lichens.

The main occupations of the population in the tundra:

Reindeer husbandry;
Fishing;
Hunting for fur and sea animals.

The population of the tundra is limited in their choice of activities due to the peculiarities of natural conditions and relative isolation from large cities, just like the population of the tundra, isolated on small islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the following types of tundra with characteristic vegetation are distinguished:

arctic tundra(marsh soils and moss-lichen plants dominate);
Subarctic tundra or typical middle tundra(moss, lichen and shrub plants, berries);
or southern tundra (shrub plants - dwarf birch, bushy alder, various types of willows, as well as berries and mushrooms).

arctic tundra

In the Arctic, on the northern edge of European and Asian Russia, as well as in the far north of North America, there is the Arctic tundra. It occupies the coastal territory of the northern seas and is a flat marshy area. Summer there brings only a brief thaw, and plants are not found due to the too cold climate. Permafrost is covered with melt lakes of melted snow and ice. Perennial plants in such conditions are able to grow only for a short period of time - at the end of July and August, grouping in low places and protected from the winds, and annual plants do not take root here, since due to the harsh natural conditions they have a very short period of time. growing season. The predominant species are mosses and lichens, and shrubs do not grow at all in the Arctic tundra.

More southern types of tundra up to the forest-tundra zone are called Subarctic. Here, the cold Arctic air briefly gives way to warmer temperate air in the summer. The days there are long, and under the influence of the penetration of a warmer climate, tundra plants have time to develop. These are mainly dwarf plants that cling to the ground, which radiates a little heat. This is how they hide from the winds and from freezing, trying to spend the winter under the snow cover as if in a fur coat.

IN middle tundra There are mosses, lichens and small shrubs. Small rodents are found here - lemmings (pieds), which feed on arctic foxes and polar owls. Most animals in the tundra are covered in snowy white fur or plumage in winter, but turn brown or gray in summer. Large animals in the middle tundra include reindeer (wild and domestic), wolves, and tundra partridge. Due to the abundance of swamps, the tundra is home to a gigantic amount of all kinds of midges, which in the summer attracts wild geese, ducks, swans, waders and loons to breed their chicks in the tundra.

Farming in the subarctic tundra is impossible in any form due to the low temperature of the soil and its poverty of nutrients. The territory of the middle tundra is used by reindeer herders as summer reindeer pastures.

On the border of the tundra and forest zones there is forest-tundra. It is much warmer than the tundra: in some areas the average daily temperature exceeds +15 degrees for 20 days a year. During the year, up to 400 mm of precipitation falls in the forest-tundra, and this is significantly more evaporated moisture. Therefore, the soils of the forest-tundra, as well as the subarctic tundra, are heavily waterlogged and swampy.

In the forest-tundra there are rare trees growing in sparse groves or singly. The forests consist of low-growing curved birches, spruces and larches. Typically, trees are far apart from each other, since their root system is located in the upper part of the soil, above permafrost. There are both tundra and forest plant species.

In the eastern part of the forest-tundra there are tundra forests, characterized by thickets of low-growing trees. Subarctic mountain regions are dominated by mountain tundra and barren rocky surfaces, on which only mosses, lichens, and small rock flowers grow. Resin moss grows much faster in the forest-tundra than in the subarctic tundra, so there is freedom for deer here. In addition to deer, the forest-tundra is home to moose, brown bears, arctic foxes, white hares, wood grouse and hazel grouse.

Agriculture in the tundra

In the forest-tundra it is possible vegetable growing in open ground, here you can grow potatoes, cabbage, turnips, radishes, lettuce, and green onions. Techniques have also been developed for creating high-yielding meadows in the forest-tundra territory.

Did you know that...
In Iceland, which is entirely located in the natural tundra zone, potatoes were grown in the past and even barley was cultivated. It turned out to be a good harvest, because Icelanders are stubborn and hardworking people. But now open-air farming has been replaced by a more profitable activity - growing plants in greenhouses heated by the heat of hot springs. And today, various tropical crops, especially bananas, grow beautifully in the Icelandic tundra. Iceland even exports them to Europe.

There are also mountain tundras, which form a high-altitude zone in the mountains of the temperate and subarctic zones. They are located above the border of mountain forests and are characterized by the dominance of lichens, mosses and some cold-resistant grasses, shrubs and shrubs. There are three zones in the mountain tundra:

Shrub belt- forms on rocky soils, like lowland tundra.
Moss-lichen belt is located above the shrubby one, its characteristic vegetation is represented by subshrubs and some herbs.
Upper belt mountain tundras are the poorest in vegetation. Here, among the stony soils and rocky formations, only lichens and mosses grow, as well as squat shrubs.

Mountain tundra (in purple)

Antarctic tundra

The Antarctic Peninsula and islands in the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere have a natural zone similar to the tundra. It was called the Antarctic tundra.

Tundra in Canada and the USA

In the northern part of Canada and the US state of Alaska, very large areas are located in the natural tundra zone. It is located in the Arctic in the northern regions of the Western Cordillera. There are 12 types of tundra in Canada and the USA:

Tundra of the Alaska Range and St. Elias Mountains (USA and Canada)
Coastal tundra of Baffin Island
Tundra of the Brooks Range and British Mountains
Davis Strait upland tundra
Tundra of the Torngat Mountains
Alpine tundra of the interior
Alpine tundra Ogilvy and Mackenzie
Arctic tundra
Subpolar tundra
polar tundra
Tundra and ice fields of the mountains of the Pacific coast
arctic tundra

Flora and fauna of the tundra

Since the entire tundra is characterized by permafrost and strong winds, plants and animals have to adapt to life in difficult cold conditions, clinging to the ground or rocks.

Plants in the tundra have characteristic shapes and properties that reflect their adaptation to harsh continental climate. There are many mosses and lichens found in the tundra. Due to the short and cold summers and long winters, most of the plants in the tundra are perennials and evergreens. Lingonberries and cranberries are examples of such perennials. shrub plants. They begin their growth as soon as the snow melts (often only in early July).

But the bushy lichen moss (“reindeer moss”) grows very slowly, only 3-5 mm per year. It becomes clear why reindeer herders constantly wander from one pasture to another. They are forced to do this not because of a good life, but because the restoration of reindeer pastures is very slow, it takes 15-20 years. Among the plants in the tundra there are also many blueberries, cloudberries, princelings and blueberries, and there are also thickets of bushy willow. And in the wetlands, sedges and grasses predominate, some of which have evergreen leaves covered with a bluish, waxy coating that gives dull colors.

1	Blueberry
2	Cowberry
3	Black crowberry
4	Cloudberry
5	Loidia late
6	Bow of speed
7	Prince
8	Cotton grass vaginalis
9	Sedge swordfolia
10	Dwarf birch
11	Willow cuneifolia

A distinctive feature of the tundra is its large population, but small species composition of animals. This is also due to the fact that the tundra is located literally at the very edge of the earth, where very few people live. Only a few species have adapted to the harsh conditions of the tundra, such as lemmings, arctic fox, reindeer, ptarmigan, snowy owl, mountain hare, wolf, and musk ox.

In summer, a mass of migratory birds appear in the tundra, attracted by the variety of insects that are found in abundance in swampy areas and are especially active in summer. They hatch and feed their chicks here so that they can soon fly to warmer climes.

Numerous rivers and lakes of the tundra are rich in various fish. Here you can find omul, vendace, broad white salmon and nelma. But cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians are practically not found in the tundra due to low temperatures, limiting their life activity.

1	White-billed loon	29	Arctic fox
2	little swan	30	White Hare
3	Bean goose	31	Varakusha
4	White-fronted goose	32	Lapland plantain
5	Canada goose	33	Bunochka
6	Brent goose	34	Red-breasted Pipit
7	Red-breasted Goose	35	Horned lark
8	Pink seagull	36	Long-tailed ground squirrel
9	Long-tailed skua	37	Black-capped marmot
10	Fork-tailed gull	38	Siberian lemming
11	American swan	39	Hoofed lemming
12	White goose	40	Norwegian Lemming
13	Blue goose	41	Middendorff's vole
14	Lesser white goose	42	Siberian crane
15	Sailor	43
16	Spectacled eider	44	Ptarmigan
17	Eider comb	45	Kulik Turukhtan
18	Tufted duck, male and female	46	Sandpiper Sandpiper
19	Merlin	47	Golden Plover
20	Peregrine Falcon	48	Dunlin Sandpiper
21	Rough-footed Buzzard	49	Flat-nosed phalarope
22	Weasel	50	Godwit
23	Ermine	51	Godwit
24	Shrew	52	bighorn sheep
25	Wolf	53	Salamander
26	White owl	54	Malma
27	Muskox	55	Arctic char
28	Reindeer	56	Dallia

Tundra partridge is one of the most famous birds of the tundra

Watch an interesting video about the tundra natural area:

The tundra is a cold, treeless plain located south of the arctic desert zone. Natural conditions in the tundra are less harsh than in the Arctic deserts. Therefore, the flora and fauna here are richer.

Using the map in the textbook, color in the tundra zone on the contour map (The world around us, grade 4, pp. 36-37). To select a color, you can use, as in the last lesson, the “key” given below.

2. Do you know the living world of the tundra? Cut out the pictures from the Appendix and arrange them correctly. Test yourself with the drawing in the textbook.

Tundra

Give your desk neighbor a mini-exam. Arrange the pictures so that there are 2-3 mistakes. Let the neighbor find them and correct them (put the pictures correctly).

Ask your desk neighbor to arrange the same exam for you. When you are confident in your knowledge, paste the pictures into your notebook.

The Question Question ant dreams of eating tundra berries, but does not know what they look like. Look at the pictures. Compare the appearance of cloudberries, blueberries and lingonberries. Explain to Ant how these plants can be recognized in nature.

You can find additional information about blueberries and lingonberries in the atlas-identifier “From Earth to Sky” (p. 90-91).

Draw a diagram of the food chain characteristic of the tundra. Compare it with the diagram proposed by your desk neighbor. Using these diagrams, talk about the ecological connections in the tundra zone.

Dwarf birch twigs - Lemming - White Owl
Moss moss - Reindeer - Wolf
Cloudberry - Ptarmigan - Gyrfalcon
Arctic willow buds - Lemming - Arctic fox - Wolf

Think what environmental problems in the tundra zone are expressed by these signs. Formulate and write down.

	From all-terrain vehicles and tractors the soil surface is disturbed, plants die
	During oil production, the surrounding area is often heavily polluted.
	In many reindeer pastures, moss disappears because reindeer are not always moved from one pasture to another in a timely manner. The most valuable pastures often perish.
	Illegal hunting - poaching - causes great harm to the wildlife of the tundra.

Suggest conservation measures for class discussion that would help solve these problems.

Continue filling out the poster “Red Book of Russia”, which was drawn by Seryozha and Nadya’s dad. Find rare tundra animals on the poster and write their names.

White crane (Siberian crane), tundra swan, red-breasted goose, gyrfalcon

7. Here you can complete the drawing according to the instructions in the textbook (p. 93).

Draw how you imagine the tundra

According to the instructions in the textbook (p. 93), prepare a report about one of the plants or animals of the tundra.

Message Subject: Polar mouse (Lemming)

Important message information: Perhaps the most numerous inhabitants of the tundra are lemmings, or polar mice. In the summer they live in shallow burrows (and would be happy to hide more reliably, but the permafrost does not allow them) or under lichen-covered rocks. In winter, lemmings make nests of grass and moss under a layer of snow, but do not even think about hibernating, but busily scurry back and forth through a real labyrinth of tunnels carefully laid in the snow, only occasionally crawling out to feast on buds, twigs and bark dwarf tundra plants. This is where white owls wait for them, sitting in ambush on top of the snowdrifts. Arctic foxes also do not disdain polar mice.
The most amazing thing is that during the long and cold polar night, lemmings successfully reproduce in their nests in the snow. Females can raise three to five broods. At this time, the main enemies of lemmings are not owls and arctic foxes, but nimble stoats, which easily penetrate the intricate network of passages dug by rodents and even impudently use their nests for resting and breeding.

Source(s) of information: Encyclopedia. Interesting about the unknown