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1.4.W.3.wavThe ecosystem of most of the Western Region is tundra. Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia, meaning treeless plain. Key characteristics of the tundra are a very cold climate, short growing season, and low biotic diversity. The plants are mainly low shrubs, sedges, mosses, and grasses.
In general, tundra is found where it is not warm enough in summer to support trees. If you look at the map on the right, you can see the line between forests and tundra is where the summer average temperature is 12°C (54°F).
For trees to survive, it really doesn't matter how cold it is in winter. The Interior is the coldest region, yet heavily forested. What matters most is how warm it gets in summer. Trees need a sufficient summer growing season to be successful.
We can see the importance of summer temperatures in the ecosystem of the Aleutians. The winters are mild and there is lots of rain, yet there are almost no trees. This is because the summer temperatures are not warm enough for forests.
Tundra in the Fall on the Seward Peninsula
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