The tundra is beautiful. Plants, animals and birds of the tundra zone. Natural conditions of the tundra

The natural zone of the tundra is located mainly beyond the Arctic Circle and is bounded from the north by arctic (polar) deserts, and from 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 in summer are blocked by mountains - these are the valleys of the Yana, Kolyma, Yukon rivers - taiga rises into the subarctic. It is necessary to distinguish separately the 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 the territories adjacent to it. Its area is about 1/8 of the entire area of ​​Russia. In Canada, the tundra natural zone belongs to a significant part of the northern territories, which are practically uninhabited. In the United States, the tundra occupies most of the state of Alaska.

a brief description of

• The natural zone tundra 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 severe, accompanied by strong winds and snowstorms;
• Cold winds blow throughout the year: in summer - from the Arctic Ocean, and in winter - from the chilled continental part of Eurasia;
• The tundra is characterized by permafrost, that is, the upper level of the earth frozen through, part of which thaws only a few tens of centimeters in summer.
• Very little precipitation falls in the tundra zone - only 200-300 mm per year. However, the soils in the tundra are waterlogged everywhere due to impermeable permafrost at a shallow depth of surface cover and low evaporation due to low temperatures even with strong winds;
• Soils in the tundra are usually infertile (due to humus being blown out by the winds) and heavily swamped due to freezing in harsh winters and only partial warming in the warm season.

Tundra is a natural zone of Russia

As everyone knows from school lessons, the nature and climate on the territory of Russia has a clearly defined zonality of processes and phenomena. This is due to the fact that the territory of the country has a large extent from north to south, and it is dominated by a flat relief. Each natural zone is characterized by a certain ratio of heat and moisture. Natural areas are sometimes called landscape or geographic areas.

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 presented on the plains of Russia natural areas, starting from the north:

• Arctic deserts;
• Forest-steppe
• steppes
• semi-deserts
• desert
• 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 mainly behind polar circle. Let's list the facts about the tundra:

• The tundra natural zone is located to the north of the taiga zone;
• In the mountains of Scandinavia, the Urals, Siberia, Alaska and Northern Canada, mountain tundras are found;
• 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 severe and is characterized by long winters with polar nights (when the sun practically does not rise above the horizon) and short summers. A particularly harsh climate is observed in the continental regions of the tundra;
• 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 in the tundra lies from October to June, its height in the European part is 50-70 centimeters, and in Eastern Siberia and Canada 20-40 cm. Snowstorms are frequent in the tundra in winter;
• Summer in the tundra is short, with a long polar day;
• August in the tundra is considered the warmest month of the year: there are positive average daily temperatures up to + 10-15 degrees, but frosts are possible on any day of the summer;
• Summer is characterized by high air humidity, frequent fogs and drizzling rains;
• The 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 herding;
• Fishing;
• Hunting for fur and sea animals.

The population of the tundra is limited in its choice of occupations due to the peculiarities of natural conditions and relative isolation from large cities, as well as the population on, isolated on small islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

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

• arctic tundra(marshy soils and moss-lichen plants predominate);
• subarctic tundra or typical middle tundra(moss, lichen and shrub plants, berries);
• or southern tundra (shrub plants - dwarf birch, bushy alder, various kind willows, as well as berries and mushrooms).

arctic tundra

In the Arctic, on the northern edge of the European and Asian parts of Russia, as well as in the far north of North America, there is an arctic tundra. It occupies the coastal territory of the northern seas and is a flat swampy area. Summer brings only a short thaw there, and plants are not found due to the too cold climate. Permafrost is covered with melted lakes of melted snow and ice. perennial plants under such conditions, they are able to grow only for a short time - at the end of July and August, grouping in places that are lowered and protected from the winds, and annual plants do not take root here, because due to harsh natural conditions, a very short 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 in summer gives way to the warmer air of the temperate zone for a short time. The day there is long, and under the influence of the penetration of a warmer climate, tundra plants have time to develop. Mainly dwarf plants, which are pressed against the earth radiating a little heat. So they hide from the winds and from freezing, trying to spend the winter under the snow cover as if in a fur coat.

AT middle tundra there are mosses, lichens and small shrubs. Small rodents are found here - lemmings (pied), which feed on arctic foxes and polar owls. Most animals in the tundra are covered with snow-white fur or plumage in winter, and turn brown or gray in summer. Of the large animals in the middle tundra, reindeer (wild and domestic), wolves, and tundra partridge live. Due to the abundance of swamps in the tundra, there is simply a gigantic amount of all kinds of midges, which attract wild geese, ducks, swans, waders and loons in the summer to breed chicks in the tundra.

Agriculture in the subarctic tundra is impossible in any form due to the low temperature of the soil and its poverty. 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 is located forest-tundra. It is much warmer in it than in 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 much more than the evaporated moisture. Therefore, the soils of the forest-tundra, as well as the subarctic tundra, are strongly waterlogged and waterlogged.

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. Usually the trees are far apart from each other, since their root system is located in the upper part of the soil, above the permafrost. There are both tundra and forest plant species.

In the eastern part of the forest-tundra are tundra forest characterized by thickets of stunted trees. In the subarctic mountainous regions, mountain tundra and barren rocky surfaces dominate, on which only mosses, lichens, and small rock flowers grow. The moss reindeer in the forest-tundra grows much faster than in the subarctic tundra, so there is expanse for deer here. In addition to deer, moose, brown bears, arctic foxes, white hares, capercaillie and hazel grouse live in the forest-tundra.

Agriculture in the tundra

In the forest tundra it is possible vegetable growing in open field , here you can grow potatoes, cabbage, turnips, radishes, lettuce, green onion. And also developed methods for creating high-yielding meadows on the territory of the forest-tundra.

And do you know what…

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

There are also mountain tundras, which form an altitudinal zone in the mountains of the temperate and subarctic belt. 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 belts in the mountain tundra:

• shrub belt- formed on stony soils, like the flat tundra.
• Moss-lichen belt located above the shrub, its characteristic vegetation is represented by semi-shrubs and some herbs.
• Upper belt mountain tundra is the poorest in vegetation. Here, among the stony soils and on the rocky formations, only lichens and mosses grow, as well as squat shrubs.

Mountain tundra (highlighted in purple)

Antarctic tundra

On the Antarctic Peninsula and islands in the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere there is a natural zone similar to the tundra. It is called the Antarctic Tundra.

Tundra in Canada and the USA

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

• Tundra of the Alaska Range and Saint Elias Mountains (USA and Canada)
• Coastal tundra of Baffin Island
• Tundra of the Brooks and British Mountains
• Davis Strait Tundra
• Tundra of the Torngat Mountains
• High mountain tundra of the hinterland
• Ogilvy and Mackenzie high tundra
• polar 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 territory of the 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 stones.

Plants in the tundra have characteristic forms and properties that reflect their adaptation to harsh continental climate. There are many mosses and lichens in the tundra. Due to short and cold summers and long winters most of Tundra plants are represented by perennial and evergreen plants. 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 ("deer 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 at all 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, princesses and blueberries, as well as thickets of bushy willow. And in wetlands, sedges and grasses predominate, some of which have evergreen leaves covered with a bluish wax coating, giving dull colors.

A distinctive feature of the tundra is a large number, but a small species composition of animals. This is also due to the fact that the tundra is located literally on 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, hare, wolf, musk ox.

In summer, a mass of migratory birds appears in the tundra, attracted by a variety of insects that are found in abundance in the swampy area and are especially active in summer. They breed and feed their chicks here to soon fly to warmer climes.

Numerous rivers and lakes of the tundra are rich in various fish. Omul, vendace, whitefish and white salmon are found here. But cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians are practically not found in the tundra because of the low temperatures that limit their vital activity.

The tundra partridge is one of the most famous birds of the tundra.

look interesting video about the tundra natural zone:

In winter, they are so severe that all living things tend to leave it for this time of the year: reindeer migrate south to the “edge of the forest”; wolves follow the deer; snow bunting descend even further, which are ordinary winter guests of our middle lane where they like to stay in flocks along the roads, pecking grains from horse manure, and the snowy owl in winter is found not only in the steppes of Europe, but also in Central Asia. Even arctic foxes, these indigenous inhabitants of the tundra, begin to "flow" to the south, into the taiga, penetrating deep into it, partly migrate north to the shore of the open sea, where they pick up surf emissions.

But there is no rule without exception. This exception is made by lemmings, otherwise arctic fox mice, widely known in literature under the Norwegian name of lemmings. They not only continue to make their snow passages with snow, but, as it was found out recently, they even continue to breed in winter. The reason for such prosperity of pied beetles is that in the tundra there are relatively many evergreens that overwinter under the snow in a conserved state, having fully developed leaves and buds, and fruits and seeds at various degrees of ripeness. This phenomenon is a remarkable adaptation to short flight, during which many plants do not have time to complete their life cycle. Thanks to this pied all year round have complete food. Under the dense snow, where they flock for the winter, they are not afraid of either frost or blizzards.

On the contrary, only due to the fact that the snow cover of the tundra is shallow in winter and large accumulations of it, the so-called faces, are formed only in depressions, mainly along ravines, in the tundra, reindeer, white hares, snowy and Lapland plantains, tundra and ptarmigans. Thus, snow, on the one hand, prevents partridges from getting food, on the other hand, it gives them shelter from winter blizzards. But for a number of animals, snow cover is favorable in all cases: it is only thanks to it that lemmings, voles and numerous shrews in the tundra and taiga can live without falling into hibernation, and lemmings and voles even breed in winter. This is explained by the fact that under the snow the air is warmer than on the surface. Experience shows that the animals listed above, released on a frosty day, quickly freeze. In turn, due to the presence of these animals in the tundra, a certain number of predators still remain for the winter: wolves, arctic foxes, snowy owls, buzzards, or upland buzzards. The gyrfalcons remain, continuing to beat their favorite prey in flight - white partridges. Finally, the omnivorous raven remains - this truly ubiquitous bird.

The tundra zone is in its own way a unique part of the territory of Russia. Its existence is due to climatic changes observed when moving from anywhere in the world to the north or south. Landscapes, the composition of flora and fauna take on a different look: closer to the north fewer trees and more lichens, and arctic foxes, reindeer and other animals that are not found in other regions live there.

In contact with

The concept of a natural geographical zone

Natural (otherwise, physiographic) zone called such an area in the geographic shell of the Earth, which is characterized by a complex of climatic, geological and geochemical conditions inherent only to it. In addition, the features and composition of the soil, relief, what types of plants and animals are characteristic of a particular area are taken into account. But still, highest value in the allocation and description of the location of the natural zone, it is precisely the climatic conditions that have.

Zonal changes in climate and landscape can practically be observed through every degree along the meridian or through 120-140 kilometers. If you move from the equator to one of the poles of the Earth, you can arrange the physiographic belts in this way:

Each natural zone corresponds to a certain climatic zone. For example, mixed forests are located in the temperate zone, and permanently wet forests are in the equatorial zone.

The presence of this natural area characteristic of the northern hemisphere, on the map it stretches across two continents, North America and Eurasia, occupying a significant part of the area of ​​Russia. The location of the tundra is determined by its proximity to the arctic deserts and taiga.

Wealth natural resources tundra entails a serious interest in the features already from school. Common themes are Vegetable world" or "Birds of the Tundra" for reports in grade 4, are compiled various tables, schoolchildren prepare reports about the local population or even write interesting stories based on the information received from the lessons according to a certain plan.

The tundra is located in the subarctic (or subantarctic) belt between temperate and arctic. This determines the rather harsh living conditions in this area. There is a very long winter, the duration of which reaches seven months, and in a short summer period, snow falls very often and frosts occur. The upper temperature limit is 10 degrees above zero. Due to low temperatures, not much evaporates from the earth's surface. a large number of water, so the soils in the tundra are very wet. For the same reason, relatively heavy rains are practically not observed.

Another important characteristic in describing the climate of the tundra is a very strong wind. It prevents the formation of deep snow cover, and the ground is often left open. Therefore, the entire living world of the tundra is forced to survive in permafrost conditions: closer to the north, the earth freezes 500 meters. The short summer period does not contribute to the thawing of the soil: on average, about 40 centimeters of land are released from the ice shell. Absorption of moisture in such conditions is difficult, so a significant part of the territory becomes swampy.

The animals and plants of the tundra are very peculiar, since the local nature is determined by harsh climatic conditions, the polar night, which lasts all winter, and the short summer day.

Vegetable world

The main feature of the tundra vegetation lies in the fact that trees cannot grow here: frozen soils do not allow the development of the root system, and a strong wind simply blows away tall plants. Therefore, it is especially common here undersized species: various shrubs and shrubs, herbs, mosses and lichens. Closer to the south, where the tundra turns into forest-tundra, some trees may grow, but this is not observed in the rest of the natural zone. This fact influenced the name of this area: translated from Finnish tunturia means "land without forest".

Mosses and lichens

Perhaps the most important in the tundra ecosystem are numerous species of mosses and lichens: cuckoo flax, reindeer moss or reindeer moss, pleurocium and many others. They are an important part of the diet of herbivores and survive in such harsh conditions due to the following factors:

The largest of the lichens of the tundra: reindeer moss. Its height ranges from 9 to 15 cm. This is a real tree in miniature. In the largest specimens, one can notice a striking resemblance to the branches and leaves of a real tree.

Shrubs and herbs

In addition to mosses and lichens, there is a variety of shrubs and shrubs. These are dwarf willows and birches, wild rosemary, blueberries, crowberry. Perennial grasses are widespread: alpine meadow grass, fescue, arctic bluegrass, sedge, rosea rhodiola and cloudberry. Shrubs do not exceed one meter in height. Their branches are not directed upwards, but on the contrary, they spread along the ground. The small size of the leaves reduces the amount of evaporated moisture, and the back side of the leaf is pubescent.

AT summer time tree leaves and grass are bright green, and closer to autumn, crimson hues appear more and more in their color. Many species are flowering, so yellow, white and reddish flowers on a bright green background make these places especially beautiful in the summer, allowing you to fully enjoy what the tundra looks like.

Animal world of the tundra

tundra fauna are distinguished by considerable diversity, despite the harsh conditions for survival in this natural area. You cannot find here only lizards and other reptiles: the absence of a long warm season does not allow cold-blooded species to live here.

land mammals

Animals in the harsh subarctic climate are forced to adapt to the conditions: they have a thick and dense coat, and birds acquire lush feathers. Among herbivores, the most famous reindeer. Their wide and powerful hooves facilitate long passages in the snow (the length of the migration routes of deer is up to 500 km), and special depressions allow them to rake snow and find reindeer moss or other plants that they feed on.

Powerful antlers allow the deer to successfully defend itself from predators. But in especially harsh and hungry years, they weaken and often become victims of tundra wolves. They live in large packs with a pronounced hunting specialization: there are beaters and attackers. This is a very hardy animal, able to go without food for a week. But if you manage to catch someone, then the feast begins: the wolves sometimes eat the victim with the skin and bones.

Other dangerous predator tundra is a wolverine. Outwardly, she resembles a bear and seems very clumsy. But it's not. The body of a wolverine is very flexible, strong legs allow for high speed. At the same time, the wolverine is notable for its endurance: if the victim cannot be caught, then the predator starves it out, chasing it until it collapses from fatigue.

A frequent victim of the wolverine, and sometimes the wolf, are lemmings: small and prolific rodents. They do not hibernate and are constantly looking for food. Deer antlers, bark, bush buds can be food. As lemmings multiply rapidly, habitual habitats are overpopulated, and animals are forced to migrate. Following them, predators also migrate: owls, arctic foxes and others.

The Arctic fox is known for its fur: it is fluffy and long (up to 30 cm). Usually they hunt lemmings and move after them, but sometimes they do not disdain carrion. Arctic fox burrows dug in the hills are used by several generations of predators: making new moves in permafrost is a difficult task. They live in small flocks, helping each other, including caring for cubs whose parents have died.

bird species

Along with mammals, the tundra is inhabited by a significant number of bird species. This is determined by two interrelated factors:

• an abundance of wetlands, rivers and lakes;
• the presence in these areas of a significant number of insects, especially in summer.

Many birds adjust to seasonality and do not migrate, such as the ptarmigan. In winter, its color allows it to disguise itself in the snow from large predators, and in summer the feathers become motley. At the same time, the partridge relatively rarely rises into the air and lives in holes that it digs in the snow.

Near the swamps lives white crane or Siberian crane. This is an endemic species and is on the verge of extinction, therefore it is listed in the Red Book. The Siberian Crane is a fairly large bird, its body size reaches half a meter in height. Habitat conditions determined the body structure of the white crane: it has the longest beak in comparison with the rest of the genus, and long legs allow it to move on a viscous surface. The Siberian Crane is omnivorous: it can eat both the eggs of other birds and fish, as well as various berries and certain parts of plants.

A serious danger to small mammals and other birds is the white, or polar, owl. She has excellent eyesight, therefore, from an insignificant height (most often she examines the area from high bumps or stones) she detects a possible victim. After a successful hunt, it does not eat the whole prey, leaving everything that has not been eaten by various scavengers. At the same time, an owl can go without food for a long time, but this significantly affects the appearance of offspring.

The abundance of rivers and direct access to the seas and the ocean are the reason why many water birds live in the tundra. Among them, a special place is tundra swan- Another rare animal that is under threat of extinction. Tundra swans feed on algae, plants growing near water, and also fish. The short duration of the summer period forces animals to raise young animals in short time: On average, this happens in 40 days.

Another representative of waterfowl - loon. On land, it is a clumsy bird, easy prey for predators, but it is almost impossible to catch it on the water: thanks to its streamlined body shape and sharp beak, the loon is an excellent diver. This skill allows you not only to get fish for food, but also to avoid many dangers.

waterfowl mammals

Many mammals also live in the water. A thick layer saves them from low temperatures subcutaneous fat. Some also have thick hair, such as the sea lion. Such protection allows him to dive to a depth of up to 400 meters. During the warm season, sea lions often come ashore to bask in the sun. In this case, they move on four limbs.

Seals have become a kind of symbol of the tundra.. They live in coastal areas, which is due to their mode of life. They forage in water and breed on land. The nose and ears of the seal are built in such a way that they close tightly when immersed. An interesting fact is that this animal is able to hold its breath for up to one hour, and this allows you to escape from land-based predators.

Another characteristic of the tundra regions animal - walrus. Its mass ranges from one ton to one and a half, and body dimensions reach up to five meters. Walruses are known for their large and powerful tusks. Their direct purpose may seem surprising: walruses dig the bottom with tusks in search of mollusks, which make up the bulk of their diet. But if his life is in danger, walruses use tusks as a formidable weapon. In addition, it is a matter of status: the longer the tusk, the more authority the walrus enjoys in its group.

1. Using the map in the textbook, fill in the tundra zone on the contour map (pp. 36-37).

Map in the textbook

To select a color, you can use, as in the previous lesson, the "key" below.

It is necessary to paint over the areas marked in purple.

2. Do you know the living world of the tundra? Cut out the pictures from the Application and arrange them correctly. Check yourself on the picture in the textbook.

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

Ask your desk mate to arrange the same exam for you. When you are confident in your knowledge, stick the pictures in your notebook.

3. Ant Questioner dreams of eating tundra berries, but does not know what they look like. Consider the drawings. Compare by appearance cloudberries, blueberries and cranberries. Explain to the Ant by what signs these plants can be recognized in nature.

You can find additional information about blueberries and lingonberries in the atlas-determinant "From Earth to Heaven" (pp. 90-91).

Cloudberry — herbaceous plant up to 30 cm high. Usually two or three rounded leaves and one berry grow on thin stems. The berry is round, yellow-red (immature) or orange (mature) in color, it looks like a raspberry.

Blueberry grows on low shrubs. The leaves on the shrub are oblong and very dense. Blueberries are round or elongated. The skin of the berries is blue with a bluish bloom, and the flesh inside is purple.

Cowberry also grows on low bushes, but its leaves are shiny, leathery and with tips bent down. Cowberry berries are shiny, round and small. They sit heaps on twigs like currants.

4. Make a diagram of the food chain characteristic of the tundra. Compare it with the scheme proposed by a neighbor on the desk. Use these diagrams to tell about ecological connections in the tundra zone.

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

Tractors and all-terrain vehicles destroy the soil and destroy plants. Then nature can not recover for a very long time.

Extraction of minerals: oil and gas. Because of this environment exposed to severe pollution.

Domestic deer are bred in the tundra, but they do not always have time to transfer deer from one pasture to another in time. As a result, the vegetation cover of the pasture does not have time to recover and the pasture dies.

Poaching is very common in the tundra. This leads to the extinction of rare species of animals and plants.

Suggest conservation measures to help solve these problems for class discussion.

6. Continue filling out the poster "The Red Book of Russia", which was drawn by Seryozha and Nadia's dad. Find rare animals of the tundra on the poster and write their names.

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

7. Here you can complete the drawing as instructed by the textbook (p. 93).

Draw how you imagine the tundra. You can try to make a model of a tundra site from plasticine and other materials.

8. As instructed by the textbook (p. 93), prepare a report about one of the plants or animals of the tundra.

With the help of additional literature, the Internet, prepare a report about one of the plants or animals of the tundra. Write down in your workbook the plan of your message and the most important information about the plant or animal.

Message subject:

Message plan:

1. Distribution of gyrfalcons
2. Appearance of gyrfalcons
3. Nutrition of gyrfalcons
4. Falcon hunting
5. Dangers to the species and animal protection

Important information to report:

Gyrfalcon is a bird of prey of the falcon family

Gyrfalcon is a bird from the falconiformes order. The gyrfalcon lives in the tundra and arctic zone of Russia, at the northernmost tip of Europe and North America. There is also a mountain-Asian species of gyrfalcons, which lives in the Tien Shan mountains.

Gyrfalcons are the largest representatives of falcons. Their length reaches 60 cm, and the wingspan is 135 cm. In Siberian gyrfalcons, the color of the back is different - from almost white to brownish-gray, the ventral side of gyrfalcons is always white with a dark pattern.

Gyrfalcons are typical predators. They feed on small birds or small animals. Birds attack prey from above. They fold their wings and grab their prey with their prehensile paws. In general, these birds are excellent flyers. Just a few flaps of wings and the bird rushes forward at great speed or falls down like a stone.

In the Middle Ages, hunting with falcons, including gyrfalcons, was widespread. They were used as birds of prey throughout Europe and in Russia. Now falconry is also a favorite hobby of many people around the world.

Due to the fact that the cost of one bird reaches $ 30,000, poachers catch them and sell them. In addition, gyrfalcons often die in traps set by poachers for arctic foxes - valuable fur-bearing animals. Security authorities are actively fighting poachers and gyrfalcons, fortunately, extinction is not yet threatened.

Source(s) of information: Internet

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

In general, the area of ​​the tundra is about 3 million square kilometers, 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 exceptional features of the tundra is permafrost, here the soil freezes up to 160 cm deep, and the tundra is also a constant wind of monstrous force. In Russia, the tundra has allocated for itself a territory of 15% percent of the entire vast country. Some part of the tundra is located even on. In Siberia, marshy tundra prevails.

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, tundra 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 off all the vegetation from the ground. The thickness of the snow is generally 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, it is, but it seems to be connected 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 plants open their leaves and lay seeds at an accelerated pace. And in October, winter is already in full swing here.

The temperature of the warmest month "summer" is at best +15 °C. Let's talk about the vegetation in the tundra, we don’t even have to talk about some kind of forests in the tundra, because of the strong wind and the harsh climate, trees do not grow here, you can rarely find “dwarf birch”. The flora of the tundra is very scarce, and its height rarely exceeds 50 cm in height.

The bulk of the vegetation is the well-known lichens and mosses. Reindeer moss predominates, popularly known as reindeer food. You can also meet, but less often, small, not picky herbs. If you look at the tundra from an airplane, you can see only 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 few animals. Only reindeer (small), foxes, bighorn sheep, wolves, small rodents, and hares live here. There are several species of birds: snow bunting, snowy owl, white partridge, etc.

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