Tundra Ecosystems

Brings together the results of research programmes in Austria, Canada, U.S.A., Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland, U.K., Ireland, U.S.S.R. and the Antarctic describing tundra and related ecosystems in a comparative manner. Includes sections on the abiotic, plant production and fauna components, the decomposer cycle and the utilisation and conservation of tundra.

This title will introduce readers to tundra ecosystems, the plants and animals that thrive there, its climate, its food web, any threats to it, and conservation efforts. Readers will also learn about the most well known tundras and their unique characteristics. . Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

The term Fennoscandia is used to denote Finland and the Scandinavian peninsula, which comprises Norway and Sweden and sometimes also neigh bouring districts of the USSR. The western part of the Scandinavian peninsula is mountainous with peaks mostly within the range 1000-2000 m above sea level. Permafrost is not usually found in the southern districts of these alpine zones, but occurs in the northeastern part of Fennoscandia in mire, even at a low elevation. If tundra is defined as areas of permafrost, only very limited regions of Fennoscandia could be included. However, in the present volumes, we have used the word tundra in a broader sense as approximating areas with mean annual air 0 temperature below 0 C at meteorological standard height (1.5-2 m); it is often used in this sense in North America. This usage allows all alpine zones to be included, along with the subalpine birch zone and certain open subarctic woodland ("forest tundra" in Russian usage).

Animals are important components of any ecosystem and it is impossible to describe structure and funCtioning of the Fennoscandian tundra ecosystems without including this part of the system. However, the strong diversity between functionally highly different fauna groups makes it impossible to study all groups in great detail with the funds and expertise available in Fennoscandia. Relatively few productivity studies were carried out on animals in Fenno scandian tundra regions before the IBP projects started in 1969-1970. Within IBP, more fauna groups have been investigated in the Norwegian tundra project than in the other countries, due to better financial support. Even in Norway, however, only a limited number of invertebrate and vertebrate taxons is studied. General lack of information on the same animals in various parts of the Fennoscandian tundra makes it more difficult to present structural and functional comparisons of fauna for the whole region than in plants and microorganisms (see Part 1 of Fennoscandian Tundra Ecosystems). Brief surveys on faunal problems within the area are given in the introduction to the animal section, and general aspects are also discussed in the four first papers of the volume.

Offers 12 fascinating facts about the world¿s cold northern regions. From pingos and permafrost to animal adaptions and explorers, full-color spreads highlight the key features of this icy ecosystem.

Go on a journey across the frozen, windswept plains that lie within the Arctic Circle. Using Alaska's North Slope as an example, Life in the Tundra examines the physical features, processes, and many different species of plants and animals that make up a unique tundra ecosystem. Find out about the impact of humans on this once-pristine ecosystem and what is being done to save it. Visit this land of eternal frost and learn what makes it so special. Book jacket.