arctic ecosystems

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The importance of Arctic Ecosystems Food – cloudberries, reindeer/caribou Fuel – timber and peat Fodder for animals – lichen for the reindeer Pharmaceuticals – e.g. cyclosporin (an immune suppressant which helps people survive organ transplants) Important genetic material – e.g. low temperature microbes which could be very useful in the future. Migratory connections with other regions, e.g. many bird species spend part of the year in the Arctic. Although there is lower species diversity (variety) than in some other regions, they are highly specialised

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The importance of Arctic Ecosystems• Food – cloudberries, reindeer/caribou• Fuel – timber and peat• Fodder for animals – lichen for the reindeer• Pharmaceuticals – e.g. cyclosporin (an immune

suppressant which helps people survive organ transplants)

• Important genetic material – e.g. low temperature microbes which could be very useful in the future.

• Migratory connections with other regions, e.g. many bird species spend part of the year in the Arctic.

• Although there is lower species diversity (variety) than in some other regions, they are highly specialised

• The population of certain types of organisms is important, e.g. the arctic has 11% of all lichens.

• We do not understand what micro-organisms and life forms exist. Microbes underpin the cycle of life, e.g. algae and fungi which live inside rocks

• It is the specialist species which are most at risk – eg Lemmings need snow for insulation in winter and move about between the frozen ground and snow where the temperature (-25°C!) is warmer than above the snow

The Arctic sea ice and its related organisms are unique. Year-round ice has allowed the development of ice endemic species (meaning they are not found anywhere else)

Arctic Ocean and ice sheet

Sea ice is formed from ocean water that freezes. Because the oceans consist of saltwater, this occurs at about -1.8 °C. Sea ice contrasts with icebergs, which are chunks of ice made of fresh water.

Sea ice expands and contracts with the seasons

Land-fast ice is frozen along coasts ("fastened" to them) or to the sea floor. It extends out from land into sea and does not move with currents and wind. Drift ice floats on the surface of the water. When packed together in large masses drift ice is called pack ice.

Phytoplankton

Seal

Arctic cod

Inuit hunter

Tundra 1

Tundra temperatures only rise above freezing for a short period of time and only the top layer of soil thaws during the summer time, the active layer. Underneath the active layer is permanently frozen ground called ”permafrost”.

In the summer tundra changes, the sun shines almost 24 hours a day, so it warms up. Plant life grows

Winter in the Arctic tundra is long, dark, and very cold with temperatures as low as -70°C

The water forms ponds and marshes scattered across the barren landscape during the short summer

During the summer caribou, insects and many birds migrate to spend the summer here. Resident creatures such as the Arctic hare, Musk ox and Ptarmigan are adapted to survive in the winter

Plant communites are adapted to strong winds and soil disturbance from frost heave (when the soil freezes and thaws. They photosynthesise at low temperatures, low light and long periods of daylight

The landscape is dominated by grasses, flowers, mosses and lichen and a few trees

Wolf

Musk Ox

Caribou

Tundra 2

Permafrost

Boreal forest 1(also known as Taiga)

Boreal forest is important. The trees and peatlands are one of the world's largest "carbon sinks“.

Boreal forest is mainly characterised by coniferous forests but also have small-leaved deciduous trees like birch, alder and aspen mostly in areas escaping the most extreme winter cold

Harsh climate with a large temperature range, from −50 °C to 30 °C through the year. The summers, are short, warm and humid.

Reptiles are rare because of cold temperatures

For much of the year the sun does not rise far above the horizon. Winters lasts 6 months, with average temperatures below freezing.

Boreal forest supports a relatively low diversity of species. But the plants and animals that live here are adapted for the bitter cold, short summers, and frequent fires. Other creatures migrate to warmer areas during the winter.

Moose

PtarmiganGrizzly bear

Boreal Forest 2