Cold Environment
Cold Environments - Tundra and Polar
Tundra and Polar
Climate
Polar temps never above 10 degrees C. Winters below -40 and can reach - 90
Tundra temps maximum 10, winters can reach -50
Rainfall (and snowfall) low - 100mm in polar and 380 in tundra
Clearly defined seasons
Soil
Polar environments covered by ice sheets, so no soils exposed
Soil in tundra is thin, acidic and not very fertile
Layer of permanently frozen ground (permafrost) beneath thin soil
Plants
Very few plants in polar areas - some mosses on rocks and few grasses on coast of Antarctica
Grow slowly and not tall - grasses most common
Animals
Few species
Polar bears, penguins and marine mammals are polar animals
Lemmings, Arctic hares, wolves and reindeer are tundra animals
People
Almost uninhabited - a few scientists live on Antarctica for short periods. Some indigenous people live in Arctic areas
Tundra environments are home to many people
Cold Environments - Biodiversity
Fragile, Interdependent Ecosystems
Plants gain nutrients from soil, and provide nutrients to animals that eat them
Plant cover is low - cold climate causes plants to grow slowly and to decompose slowly, so soil is low in nutrients
Herbivores that rely on plants to survive must migrate to areas where there are plants - carnivores must follow
Plant adaptations
Animal adaptations
Low biodiversity
Most plants become dormant to survive cold, dark winters
Small and round-shaped to provide protection from wind
Shallow roots because of permafrost
Warmer, wetter summer is v/ short, so plants have adapted to a growing season of just 50-60 days
Well-insulated
Hibernate to conserve energy and survive winter
Migrate to warmer conditions during winter
White coats in winter to help camouflage
Cold environments have a very low biodiversity
Development in Cold Environments
Development opportunities in Alaska
Oil and gas
Mineral resources
Fishing
Tourism
Challenges to development
Extreme Temp
Mean annual temp -9
Extreme amount of daylight it gets
Inaccessibility
Long way from rest of US
In winter - ice roads or by air
In summer - no roads to some towns because ground too soft
Buildings and Infrastructure
Providing buildings that can cope with the ground and weather is difficult
Most construction work can only take place in summer
Cold Environments - Sustainable Management
Valuable wilderness worth conserving
Provide habitats for organisms so help protect biodiversity
Natural ecosystems that are useful to compare to managed ecosystems
Last remaining areas that haven't been altered by human activity
Fragile environments
If interfered with it can take a long time to return to their original state
Plant growth is very slow
Species are highly specialised so find it difficult to adapt to change
Strategies to balance economic development with conservation
Use of Tech - modern construction methods can minimise environmental impacts
Conservation Groups - puts pressure on governments to protect environments
International Agreements - 1959 Antarctic Treaty, signed by 12 nations, limits visitors landing at one site to 100 at a time, ensures peaceful non-military activities, prohibits nuclear activities and prevents cruise ships of over 500 passengers stopping
Role of Governments - if development is allowed without regulation it can cause damage to environment