The Tundra is Earth's frozen frontier and also one of the world's most fascinating and fragile ecosystems. Often described as the cold desert (in contrast to the other desert on this website, the Sonoran Desert) the tundra is characterized by its harsh climate, unique adaptations of its inhabitants, and its critical role in global climate regulation. This ecosystem, while appearing desolate at first glance, is teeming with life specially adapted to survive in one of the planet's most challenging environments. 

When people hear the word "Tundra", they automatically assume Antarctica is the only place in the world that matches this description. While it is certainly true that Antarctica is a tundra, there are a multitude of tundra ecosystems. They are found only in the northern hemisphere, forming a belt around the Arctic Ocean, including parts of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, and Siberia. They also occur at high altitudes in various mountain ranges worldwide, known as alpine tundra. An example of a tundra is The Arctic tundra, which covers approximately 5.4 million square kilometers, representing about 10% of Canada's land surface (Government of Canada, 2023).

The Tundra biome consists of several key characteristics, and one of those is of course the climate. The tundra experiences long, cold winters with temperatures often below freezing for extended periods. Summers are short and cool, with average temperatures rarely exceeding 10°C (50°F). This harsh climate results in a short growing season, typically lasting only 50-60 days (National Geographic, 2023). 

Another key characteristic of the Tundra biome is the general absence of trees. It is nearly impossible for trees to grow due to the permafrost. Permafrost is a layer of permanently frozen subsoil that characterizes much of the tundra. This permafrost layer can extend from 25 to 90 cm (10 to 35 inches) below the surface (NASA Earth Observatory, 2023). This makes it nearly impossible for trees to grow, which is why if there is vegetation, it is low-growing plants that are more suited for the cold and winds. 

One final characteristic would be the surprisingly small amounts of precipitation that the tundra receives. Because it is so cold and because it snows more than it rains, a tundra is technically a desert, since it receives little to no rainfall. However, we know that a tundra has snow while other deserts such as the Sonoran Desert have no such thing, and are arid and hot. One is cold, and the other is burning hot. Hilarious. 

Despite the harsh conditions, there is a surprising amount of life and biodiversity found in the Tundra. While there is more life in places like a tropical rainforest or a grassland, there is still a surprising amount of life to be found. The tundra is home to approximately:

• 1,700 species of plants (including mosses and lichens)

• 48 land mammals

• 200 species of birds (mostly migratory)

• Numerous insect species, particularly flies and mosquitoes

The alpine tundra, found at high elevations worldwide, adds to this biodiversity with its own unique species adapted to high-altitude environments (Arctic WWF, 2023).

The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is a prime example of tundra adaptation. Its thick, white winter coat provides excellent camouflage in the snow and superior insulation against the cold. Its coat turns brown or gray in the summer to blend with the rocky landscape. The fox's compact body, short legs, and small ears minimize heat loss. Its keen sense of hearing allows it to locate prey beneath the snow, an essential skill for winter survival (National Wildlife Federation, 2023). This fox is an important part of the ecosystem, as it acts as a predator and keeps control of the number of consumers.  They eat birds, lemmings, and other small insects. 

The tundra, like every other ecosystem, has a food web. While it is not as complex or diverse as other ecosystems, it still shows the complexity and importance of ecological relationships. 

Below are the relationships in he food web: 

Producer-Consumer: Lichens, mosses, and low-growing plants form the base of the food chain. Herbivores like caribou, musk oxen, and lemmings feed on these plants, converting plant energy into forms accessible to carnivores.

 Predator-Prey: Arctic foxes, wolves, and polar bears are key predators in the tundra. Their populations are closely tied to the abundance of their prey, illustrating classic predator-prey dynamics. 

Decomposers: Despite the cold, bacteria and fungi play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter, albeit slowly. This process is vital for nutrient cycling in the nutrient-poor tundra soil.

Humans have the power and capacity to shape the world, and we have demonstrated that throughout the last century. We have significantly altered the planet, and all of its ecosystems, the tundra included. Below are a few ways we have impacted this ecosystem: 

Climate Change: Rising temperatures are causing permafrost to thaw, leading to changes in vegetation, hydrology, and carbon release. This could potentially create a feedback loop, accelerating global warming (NASA, 2023). The damage done is evident, as there is less and less ice in the tundra and animals are beginning to migrate to other areas of the world. 

Resource Extraction: Oil, gas, and mineral extraction activities can damage the fragile tundra landscape and disrupt wildlife habitats.

Pollution: Long-range transport of pollutants, including persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals, affects tundra ecosystems and accumulates in the food chain.

While it is known that our impact is more negative than positive, we have not abandoned the tundra. Conservation efforts are ongoing, including the establishment of protected areas, sustainable tourism practices, and international agreements to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change (CAFF, 2023).

The tundra is a remarkable display of the resilience of life and the power of evolution and adaptation. Like the Sonoran Desert, surviving in these climates is no easy feat and requires extreme resilience and this is what life showcases in the tundra. Life does not simply survive, it thrives in these hostile environments. The animals have a white coat for the winter and then a brown one for the summer. Animals like the Arctic fox have body parts designed to preserve heat. The ingenuity of life is incredible and on full display. 

It is very tragic, however, that we find ourselves on track to potentially lose these ecosystems forever. As the world heats, the permafrost melts away and releases greenhouse gases thousands of years old, contributing to accelerated warming of the planet.