Arctic vegetation
Encyclopedia
In the Arctic
, the low tundra
vegetation clothes a landscape of wide vistas, lit by the low-angle light characteristic of high latitudes. Much of the Arctic
shows little impact from human activities, making it one of the few places on earth one can see intact ecosystem
s. Those who have had the luck to spend time in the Arctic have felt the incredible beauty of these landscapes. Though the climate can be harsh, and the open expanses can seem stark and lonely, Nature’s strength can be seen in the delicate flowers that grow in sheltered cracks, in the caribou that float through bitter storms, their feet lost in the ground blizzard (snow blowing along the ground), in the caterpillar
s that may have to grow through 14 summers before they are big enough (have stored enough energy) to be able to turn into moth
s.
Arctic plants are adapted to short, cold growing seasons . They have the ability to withstand extremely cold temperatures in the winter (winter hardiness), but what is even more important is the ability to be able to function in limiting summer conditions.
Arctic plants have a compressed growing season: they initiate growth rapidly in the spring, and flower and set seed much sooner than plants that grow in warmer conditions. Their peak metabolic rate also occurs at a much lower temperature than plants from farther south. Compact cushions of vegetation keep the plants close to the warm soil and shield the tender central growing shoot. The height of Arctic plants is also governed by snow depth. Plants that protrude above the snow are subject to strong winds, blowing snow, and being eaten by caribou, muskox, or ptarmigan. Moss
es and lichen
s are common in the Arctic. These plants have the ability to stop growth at any time and resume it promptly when conditions improve. They can even survive being covered by snow and ice for over a year.
Subzone A, where mean July temperatures are less than 3°C, has no woody plants or sedges. Woody plants first occur in Subzone B (mean July temperature about 3-5°C) as prostrate (creeping) dwarf shrubs, and increasing in height up to 15 cm in Subzone C (about 5-7°C), to erect dwarf shrubs ( up to 40 cm tall) in Subzone D (mean July temperature about 7-9°C), and low shrubs (40 cm to 2 m tall) in Subzone E (mean July temperature about 9-12°C). At the treeline, where mean July temperatures are between 10 and 12°C, woody shrubs up to 2 m tall are abundant. The number of vascular plants in local floras available to form plant communities increases from fewer than 50 species in the coldest parts of the Arctic to as many as 500 species near treeline.
map of 15 different Arctic
types was created by an international team of vegetation scientists, representing the six countries of the Arctic: Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the United States.
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
, the low tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
vegetation clothes a landscape of wide vistas, lit by the low-angle light characteristic of high latitudes. Much of the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
shows little impact from human activities, making it one of the few places on earth one can see intact ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s. Those who have had the luck to spend time in the Arctic have felt the incredible beauty of these landscapes. Though the climate can be harsh, and the open expanses can seem stark and lonely, Nature’s strength can be seen in the delicate flowers that grow in sheltered cracks, in the caribou that float through bitter storms, their feet lost in the ground blizzard (snow blowing along the ground), in the caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s that may have to grow through 14 summers before they are big enough (have stored enough energy) to be able to turn into moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s.
Arctic plants are adapted to short, cold growing seasons . They have the ability to withstand extremely cold temperatures in the winter (winter hardiness), but what is even more important is the ability to be able to function in limiting summer conditions.
Arctic plants have a compressed growing season: they initiate growth rapidly in the spring, and flower and set seed much sooner than plants that grow in warmer conditions. Their peak metabolic rate also occurs at a much lower temperature than plants from farther south. Compact cushions of vegetation keep the plants close to the warm soil and shield the tender central growing shoot. The height of Arctic plants is also governed by snow depth. Plants that protrude above the snow are subject to strong winds, blowing snow, and being eaten by caribou, muskox, or ptarmigan. Moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es and lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s are common in the Arctic. These plants have the ability to stop growth at any time and resume it promptly when conditions improve. They can even survive being covered by snow and ice for over a year.
Arctic bioclimate subzones
Arctic vegetation is largely controlled by summer temperatures. Mean July temperature is close to 0°C in the coldest areas. At these temperatures, plants are at their metabolic limits, and small differences in the total amount of summer warmth make large difference in the amount of energy available for maintenance, growth and reproduction. As one goes for north to south, the size, horizontal cover, abundance, productivity and variety of plants increases. These changes can be used to divide the Tundra Bioclimate Zone into 5 Subzones, A-E .Subzone A, where mean July temperatures are less than 3°C, has no woody plants or sedges. Woody plants first occur in Subzone B (mean July temperature about 3-5°C) as prostrate (creeping) dwarf shrubs, and increasing in height up to 15 cm in Subzone C (about 5-7°C), to erect dwarf shrubs ( up to 40 cm tall) in Subzone D (mean July temperature about 7-9°C), and low shrubs (40 cm to 2 m tall) in Subzone E (mean July temperature about 9-12°C). At the treeline, where mean July temperatures are between 10 and 12°C, woody shrubs up to 2 m tall are abundant. The number of vascular plants in local floras available to form plant communities increases from fewer than 50 species in the coldest parts of the Arctic to as many as 500 species near treeline.
Circumpolar Arctic vegetation map
A circumpolarCircumpolar
The term circumpolar may refer to:* circumpolar navigation: to travel the world "vertically" traversing both of the poles* Antarctic region** Antarctic Circle** the Antarctic Circumpolar Current** Subantarctic** List of Antarctic and subantarctic islands...
map of 15 different Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
types was created by an international team of vegetation scientists, representing the six countries of the Arctic: Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the United States.