Tundra is an ecosystem located outside the vegetation of the continents. This ecosystem includes the Arctic Circle, which according to some sources is the coldest place on the planet.
In fact, the Arctic Circle itself is not the coldest place on the planet. In light of the fact that the coldest places on the planet are generally located in Antarctica, it is not at all possible to talk about the coldest places in relation to the Arctic Circle. There is a pole of cold Northern Hemisphere and it is located in the Oymyakon region, and the circle is just a conditional border.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the tundra is an ecosystem typical of areas north of the Arctic Circle, characterized by low average annual temperatures and, in most cases, very harsh winters.
There is also tundra in the Arctic, northern Canada and Alaska. In these harsh regions, the average winter temperature is around -34 degrees, and in summer time it fluctuates in the range of only +3 to +12 degrees.
Plants in the tundra grow quite densely to provide protection from harsh winds. And the animals most They spend time hibernating or wait out harsh conditions in warmer regions.
polar fox
The polar fox is better known by another name - the arctic fox, which is famous for its snow-white fur coat. Arctic foxes are much smaller in size compared to their forest counterparts. The arctic fox's body length is 50-75 centimeters, and it has a gorgeous tail 25-30 centimeters long.
Polar fox - arctic fox - chic decoration arctic tundra.
There are white and blue arctic foxes, the latter have a darker coffee or gray body color with a bluish tint. Thanks to their beautiful fur, arctic foxes are valuable game animals. Blue foxes are the most prized.
killer whale
- marine mammals. Perfectly adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of the tundra. Killer whales eat high-calorie foods, which accumulate an insulating layer of fat in their bodies. This fat makes life easier in icy waters.
In harsh conditions, the character of killer whales has been tempered; it is not for nothing that they are called killer whales. They attack dolphins, sea otters, pinnipeds, sea lions and even large whales.
Sea lion
Like killer whales, sea lions are adapted to life in the waters of the icy tundra. The individuals are quite large and have a good layer of fat. Males weigh on average about 300 kilograms, and females weigh up to 90 kilograms. Given their massive size, sea lions are successful hunters.
The sea lion is an animal that is also perfectly adapted to living in the harsh conditions of the tundra. Gopher
But they are very small in size. The body length of these small rodents does not exceed 14-40 centimeters, but they are protected from the cold by a thick fur covering. In order not to die in winter time, gophers make large reserves of food from the seeds of herbaceous plants, which they feed on when everything around is covered with snow.
Lemming
These are another small rodent, a family of hamsters that live in the cold tundra. They are not afraid of frosts due to their smooth fur and thick layer of fat. They remain active throughout the year and spend the winter in nests made in the snow. This small animal eats twice as much per day own weight. They feed all day with short breaks, and also store food for the winter.
Seal
Seals, like sea lions, have taken root well in the vastness of the tundra. They spend the summer on the shore, where they continue their race, and then return to the ice again.
Belukha
The body is covered with a thick layer of skin, the thickness of which reaches 15 centimeters. This thick skin protects beluga whales from injury when they swim among sharp ice. And a layer of subcutaneous fat, the thickness of which is 10-12 centimeters, prevents them from getting too cold.
Wintering for belugas is not easy; they constantly have to maintain ice holes so that they do not freeze, since these animals periodically need to rise and breathe fresh air. They break through the ice with their strong backs. But sometimes wintering ends tragically for them, when the polynyas are covered with too thick a layer of ice, and belugas are trapped in ice.
Elk and reindeer
Both of these species are common in the tundra and are the original inhabitants of northern latitudes. Most often, moose and reindeer migrate to warm regions in winter. Moose can feed on bark in winter, so having a large layer of snow is not a problem for them.
The coat is warm, the undercoat is very fluffy and thick, the length of the guard hairs is 1-2.5 centimeters. The hairs inside are hollow, which improves thermal insulation; in addition, they allow the animal to stay afloat when it wades across the river.
Arctic hare
This species of hares is well adapted to life in polar regions. Paws have special shape, thanks to which hares can easily move through the snow and not fall through, and also not slide on the ice.
The fur of Arctic hares is fluffy and very warm, so they do not freeze in cold weather. The color is completely white, only the tips of the ears and nose remain black, so the hares are invisible among the polar snows.
Their incisors are longer than those of ordinary hares, and are well adapted for gnawing frozen plants. active all year round, they do not hibernate.
Polar bear
Polar bears are precisely those animals that many associate with the Arctic. These large predators have an impressive reserve of fat deposits, which they accumulate in the spring and summer, thanks to which they survive the lean winter months.
The wool is devoid of pigment coloring, translucent hairs transmit only ultraviolet radiation, improving thermal insulation properties. The hairs are hollow inside, so the wool is very warm.
Between the toes there is a swimming membrane, thanks to which polar bears can hunt for prey in the water.
Polar bears make seasonal migrations. In summer they retreat closer to the pole, and in winter they move south, climbing to the mainland.
In winter, polar bears can lie in a den. Mostly pregnant females go into hibernation, and it lasts 50-80 days, while males and young females do not go into hibernation every year, and its duration is less significant.
Gray wolf
Gray wolves are the ancestors of sled dogs, with the help of which people moved through the snow. Gray wolves are larger than their southern relatives.
The fur of gray wolves is thick, fluffy, and consists of two layers. One layer consists of the undercoat, including waterproof down, which keeps the body warm. And the second consists of hard guard hairs that repel dirt and water.
During the period of lack of food Gray wolves can switch to frogs and even large insects; also in winter, a large percentage of the diet consists of plant foods - wild berries and mushrooms.
Ermine
Stoats live in the tundra of Europe and North America. They have a protective color: in winter it becomes completely white, while the tip of the tail remains black. These animals lead a solitary lifestyle; they climb and swim well.
Muskox
They live in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Siberia, Norway and Sweden. They have incredibly long fur, so they are not afraid of life in the north, they can withstand even the most severe frosts. The fur hangs down to the ground, covering the legs. It consists of two types of hairs: the outer ones are long and coarse, and inside there is a soft and thick undercoat. The undercoat is called giviot, it is 8 times warmer than sheep wool.
Musk oxen have long and thick hair that hangs almost to the ground and protects them from the severe arctic cold. White or polar owl
These birds are distributed throughout the tundra. The color is white, camouflage with big amount black inclusions. Thanks to this color, snowy owls are well camouflaged in the snow.
In winter, polar owls fly to the forest-tundra and steppe zones. Also in winter they can fly into settlements. But some individuals remain in the nesting areas in winter, sticking to areas with a small amount of snow and ice.
Grasshoppers and mosquitoes
Grasshoppers live almost everywhere to the globe, the tundra is no exception. There are 12 species of mosquitoes found on the tundra, which are active in the summer.
Conservation of tundra wildlife
Plants and animals of the tundra are very vulnerable; they must be treated with care, since it will take years to restore the biotope in harsh conditions.
The flora and fauna of the tundra need protection.
Today it is listed in the Red Book a large number of animals whose home is the tundra: the Chukchi white-billed loon, white goose, Chukchi polar bear, red-breasted and barnacle goose, white-billed goose, white crane, small and American swan.
To protect the animals of the tundra, the following were made: Lapland, Kandalaksha, Taimyr and others.
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
The harsh world of the tundra is beautiful, rich and attractive. In Russia this natural area covers the territory from the Kola Peninsula and extends to Chukotka. Outside our country, it is located in the northern part of Eurasia and North America.
Life in this icy desert without forests, with frozen soil, and strong winds seems impossible. But even here the world is surprisingly resilient and diverse. Names of tundra animals became symbols of power, fearlessness, insight, strength, beauty: wolf, walrus, peregrine falcon, owl, swan.
Mammals of the tundra
Reindeer
One of the most amazing tundra animals consider . Thanks to this powerful animal, man mastered the North. Unlike domesticated relatives, wild representatives are larger. In males and females big horns.
Deer live in communities of several thousand heads. For dozens of years, their migration routes remain unchanged. Long routes, up to 500 km, are covered by animals in seasonal nomads.
Wide hooves are adapted for walking on snow. The recesses in them in the form of a scoop allow you to rake the snow cover in search of food. Reindeer swim beautifully, overcoming water obstacles.
The basis of the animals' diet has become moss or moss, which they look for under the snow. The diet includes berries, herbs, lichens, and mushrooms. To maintain the mineral-salt balance, deer eat a lot of snow or drink water. For the same purpose, they gnaw the horns of their brothers or their own discarded ones.
The next day, the born fawn runs independently after its mother. Before the onset of severe cold weather, the baby feeds on mother's milk, and then, along with adults, they fight for survival in the wild. Among animal world of the tundra Deer have almost no enemies. It poses a danger to weakened individuals and fawns.
Pictured is a reindeer
Tundra wolf
But this is small prey. Wolves will feast if they defeat a baby deer or a weakened individual. Natural caution, strength and cunning are impressive: the flock follows the trail in the snow, as if just a single animal left prints.
Pictured is a tundra wolf
Blue (white) Arctic fox
Beautiful and multi-layered fur, up to 30 cm long, saves animals from frostbite. The eyes produce a special pigment to protect against blinding light in a snow-white environment.
Blue (white) Arctic fox
Wolverine
One of the indigenous animals of the tundra of Russia is a beast similar to little bear. original. With a clumsy and clubbed gait, they are flexible and agile, like their relatives in the mustelidae family.
Coarse wool has a unique structure: it never sticks together or gets wet. Because of its constant movements, the wolverine was nicknamed a tramp. Indiscriminate eating helps to survive in harsh conditions. If the prey cannot be caught up, then the animal starves it out, chasing it until its strength is exhausted.
In the photo there is a wolverine
White hare
Among animals of the tundra and forest-tundra has taken a liking to bushy areas where it can shelter and feed itself. They live in groups of up to 20 animals, sometimes in larger numbers.
They take shelter from the cold in dug shelters. 20% of an animal's weight is fat deposits. Warm fur protects against low temperatures. The main diet includes moss, bark, and algae.
Muskox
The animal has an unusual appearance, adapted to survive in the harshest conditions. Long thick hair reaching to the ground, a massive head and rounded horns are the main features.
They live in organized herds. Despite their apparent slowness, they can run up to 30 km/h. A defensive circular stand is known, inside which females and calves are hidden. These animals are herbivores. They even feed on scanty dry plants obtained from under the snow.
Lemmings
Small rodents that look like are known for their extraordinary fertility. How tundra animals adapted to harsh conditions, so they adapted to constant extermination. They are called living scales, measuring the satiety of predators. Due to the color of their fur, they received the second name of northern pieds.
Lemmings feed continuously, eating twice their body weight per day. Activity occurs around the clock; rodents do not hibernate. Their regime is a continuous alternation of an hour of feeding and two hours of sleep.
Overpopulation in the territory forces people to wander. The spread of lemmings is a well-fed paradise for many other inhabitants of northern latitudes. Lemmings take refuge in small holes with dug passages.
They gnaw bark, branches, old deer antlers, buds, and eggshells. On the way they overcome all obstacles: rivers, rocky hills, swamps. In the uncontrolled movement, many die, but this does not affect the overall number.
They are aggressive towards other animals. They can even attack a large animal in a vicious frenzy. Thanks to lemmings, the natural balance of the tundra is maintained.
In the photo there is a lemming
Ermine
An animal with a long and thin body, short limbs adapted for climbing. Webbed paws help move through the snow. In the relatively warm season with a brownish-red cap and a yellowish belly, and in winter it is snow-white. Only the tip of the tail is invariably black.
The animal swims beautifully. It feeds on rodents, destroys bird nests, and eats fish. The stoat does not make its own holes; it occupies other people's shelters after eating rodents.
Shelter can be found among the roots of plants, in ravines. Settles near bodies of water. It is difficult for the animal to survive, it has a lot natural enemies. Man exterminates animals for their valuable fur.
Marine mammals
killer whale
Perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions of the tundra. A thick layer of fat accumulates from high-calorie foods and protects in ice water. Smart socially developed animals. Large mass and size help cope with sea lions. Because of their severity and strength, they are called killer whales.
Sea lion
The massive body of the pinniped animal has a streamlined shape and moves well in the water. On land, sea lions move on all fours.
In the icy elements of the tundra, they are successful both in sea hunting and in open rookeries. Subcutaneous fat and thick hair protect sea lion, capable of diving to depths of up to 400 m and basking in the sun on the coast.
sea lions
Seal
Several species of seals live in the tundra. The sea feeds them, and on land communication and reproduction occur. The structure is universal for life under water: the body has no protrusions, the openings of the nostrils and ears are closed.
Holding your breath for up to 1 hour during a dive allows you to hunt and avoid surface predators by hiding in the water column. The front flippers act like oars, and the rear ones steer. Seal fur does not warm well, but the subcutaneous fat provides good protection in tundra conditions. Animals even sleep in ice-cold water.
Belukha
The beluga whale is protected from cold and damage by a thick layer of skin up to 15 cm and the same fatty lining. The absence of a fin on the back and a streamlined, stocky body contribute to a confident stay in the water.
The depth of their dive reaches 700 m. It is important to breathe air, so periodically they break through the ice on ice holes with their strong backs in winter. If a thick layer is formed, the animals may die.
Walrus
Larger than a seal in mass and size, reaching 5 m and 1.5 tons of weight. main feature- powerful tusks. They are needed for digging the bottom and extracting shellfish, its main food.
He also needs such weapons for self-defense. The giant is a predator; to enrich its diet, it can catch and eat seals. The longer the tusks, the higher the status of the walrus in social group.
On land, walruses feel more confident than other pinnipeds. They walk, rather than waddle from side to side. They help their brothers and take care of the walruses together.
Birds of the tundra
Swampy lowlands, numerous lakes, rivers rich in fish attract people arriving in the spring. feeding places. The tundra comes to life and is filled with noise and screams. The noise of bird colonies and the roar of powerful tides are the sounds of the tundra.
Short-term warming promotes development huge number blood-sucking insects, gives birds a chance to raise their chicks and raise them on the wing before flying to their winter quarters. Not everyone flies away; the most resilient ones have learned to adapt to the world of ice and snow.
White Owl
The bird is considered a permanent resident of the tundra. She is very beautiful: her white plumage is fluffy and soft to the touch. Expressive yellow eyes with keen eyesight they constantly look out for prey. The bird does not like trees; it sits on high stones, ledges, and hummocks to view the snowy plains.
The peculiarity of eating only tidbits production The rest goes to less fortunate hunters. In the absence of food, it can starve for a long time. The nesting of owls depends on the availability of food. Abundance affects big offspring. Lack of food leaves birds without offspring.
Ptarmigan
Perfectly camouflaged in the snow, and in the summer it changes color and becomes pockmarked, like others tundra animals. Which in flight, few people know. It rarely flies, but runs beautifully. Digs snow holes in which it finds food and hides from enemies. Quiet, beautiful birds are the object of hunting for many other inhabitants of the tundra.
Tundra swan
It is the smallest in size among its waterfowl relatives. They feed on algae, fish and coastal vegetation. The grace and elegance of birds have become symbols of beauty.
The created couples are inseparable throughout their lives. Large nests are built on high ground and lined with their own feathers and the feathers of other birds. The chicks are not left alone and are protected by strong wings and beaks.
The young grow stronger in 40 days. Short summer hurries the birds. The small tundra swan is listed animals of the Red Book of the tundra. Shooting of birds is prohibited.
Pictured are tundra swans
Loons
The oldest birds that have survived to the present day. Their places of promise are becoming fewer and fewer, and the birds cannot adapt to changes. They remember their territories for years.
Their life is connected with bodies of water; they move on land with difficulty. The pointed beak, elongated body and short wings distinguish it from ducks. Excellent divers for fish and in case of danger.
loon bird
Oatmeal crumble
Migrant. Settles in thickets of tundra bushes and dwarf birch, occupying ground layers. Recognizable by a red stripe with a black border along the crown. The singing is high and gentle. Nesting sites change annually. They fly to China for the winter.
In the photo there is a bunting bird
Siberian crane (white crane)
Large bird with a long red beak and high legs. Siberian crane nesting sites can be seen in low-lying wetlands. Conservation of birds is a difficult task due to their demanding conditions: an aquatic environment with viscous soil. The voice is drawn-out and sonorous.
Peregrine falcon
The large one loves open areas, so in the vastness of the tundra they have extensive nesting areas, up to 10 km from the neighboring one. They do not hunt in their territories, so other birds settle next to them, finding protection from birds of prey that the peregrine falcons drive away. Mating pairs of falcons last a lifetime.
Birds have their own hunting style. They swoop down on their prey and grab it with their paws. Finish off with the beak only when necessary. They eat prey on stones, ledges, stumps, but not on the ground.
Peregrine falcon bird
Flat-nosed phalarope
Settles in low-lying areas of the tundra, where lakes and numerous puddles accumulate. They feed on insects, mollusks, larvae, and small animals. Like wind-up toys, the size of , they are constantly fingering them with their paws. Unlike other birds, they are not shy and will let you get very close.
Caring for the offspring through incubation rests with the male. After laying eggs, the female flies away. The male, having fulfilled his parental duty, leaves the tundra with a group of brothers. The grown young animals fly to the winter quarters on their own.
Flat-nosed phalarope
Kamenushka
One of those birds that is able to spend the winter in the lifeless desert tundra. Bright ducks stay at the sea edge, in shallow waters, in ice holes. In summer, they move to fast rivers of the mountain tundra to nest.
Stonewheat birds
Tundra Horned Lark
They are among the first to arrive in the tundra. Thanks to the original design and two black horns, it is easy to recognize among birds. The size of a large ruffled sparrow. They love to swim. They fly in pairs or small flocks. Breeds in the tundra on hilltops. The singing is abrupt and ringing.
Tundra Horned Lark
Animals living in the tundra, many, but among them there are absolutely no reptiles. But there is an abundance of blood-sucking insects. There are 12 species of mosquitoes alone.
In addition to them, animals suffer from gadflies, midges, and black flies. The lives of all living organisms depend on each other, maintaining an amazing balance in the tundra natural zone.
Tundra is a special type of natural zone located outside of forest vegetation. Tundra is an area with permafrost soil that is not flooded by river or sea waters. Currently, the tundra is divided into three types - swampy, peaty and rocky. The main feature This natural area is a swampy lowland in a harsh climate, strong winds and permafrost.
Fauna of the tundra
The coastal areas of the tundra are mainly occupied by small mammals animals: Ob and Siberian lemmings, Middendorff's vole, housekeeper vole, narrow-skulled vole, etc. Lemmings are small rodents with hooves at the ends of their limbs. Lemmings form the basis of the diet of tundra predators. It is curious that the number of predators directly depends on the number of these rodents. Both ermines and gyrfalcons enjoy lemmings. These rodents, as well as mice and voles, constitute the main diet of arctic foxes and snowy owls.
Arctic foxes are considered one of the most amazing animals of the tundra. In addition, they are the main element of fur production in the tundra, but not the only one. The fur world of the tundra is also diluted with wolverines, ermines and weasels. The southern part of the tundra zone is inhabited by foxes, whose fur is valued along with the fur of the arctic fox. You can also meet wolves in the tundra. They live mainly in places where numerous domestic reindeer herds gather.
It is curious that most animals living in the tundra begin their activity with the first rays spring sun. In spring, the tundra zone may be unrecognizable: they flock here for nesting, since swamps and lakes attract them with an abundance of food. In spring, the tundra is filled with noise and cries of animals. Life here doesn’t calm down for a minute at this time - you need to get everything done before the cold weather!
Reindeer, musk oxen, wolves and arctic foxes are amazing animals of the tundra that have managed to adapt to such harsh living conditions among snow and ice. Seals, polar bears, and walruses are no different from them. For example, walruses are tireless and fast swimmers. They, like powerful torpedoes, cut through the thickness of the icy water. Walruses may not get out of this water for several days. This makes them one of the most amazing animals of the tundra.
The personification of power and endurance in the tundra is, of course,. He is rightly called the master of the Arctic. This mighty and strong animal is considered the largest representative of terrestrial animals inhabiting the tundra zone of the Earth. Individual individuals can reach one ton in weight. Huge clawed paws are its formidable weapon: with one blow this predator can kill a seal or stun a harp seal.
The tundra zone is quite extensive, located from the Kola Peninsula to Chukotka - that is, it covers almost the entire north of Russia. The boundaries of the tundra almost coincide with the Arctic Circle in the south and west, and in the east it extends quite far, to the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.
Tundra is a natural zone that is located in the northern part of the continents. These are limitless expanses of permafrost. The local soil never thaws to a depth of more than a meter. Therefore, all the vegetation of the tundra, as well as all its inhabitants, are adapted to life in such a way as to be the least demanding of external conditions.
The tundra zone is characterized by very harsh living conditions:
So, short cold summer, harsh long winters, permafrost, special lighting - these are the conditions in which the flora of the tundra grows.
Tundra vegetation differs in small sizes: strong gusts of wind blow away the fallen snow, consisting of hard ice crystals, moving it at high speed. This phenomenon is called snow corrosion; it not only damages plants, but also causes even stone to be sanded.
In summer, plants grow in absolutely amazing conditions: the sun is low and heats weakly, but it shines 24 hours a day, this phenomenon is called “polar day”. Therefore, herbs and shrubs adapt well so much long day, which does not interfere with their development.
However, representatives of the flora short day they won't be able to survive here. Let's consider which plants and animals of the tundra have adapted to these harsh conditions.
Features of the flora and fauna of the tundra
The most common species found here are lichens and mosses, low-growing shrubs, shrubs and herbs. Trees for the most part cannot live in such harsh conditions.
Summer is too short, so young shoots simply do not have time to build up the protective layer necessary for overwintering. Only in southern regions Sometimes there are rare trees, however, these areas it would be more correct to call it forest-tundra.
Lichens and mosses. This is very important representatives flora of the tundra that grow here great amount species. Mosses often form a continuous carpet and serve as food for local fauna. Why do they manage to survive in harsh conditions:
- They are short-growing, so even a small layer of snow reliably covers them.
- These plants do not obtain nutrients and moisture from the soil, taking them from the atmosphere. Therefore, poor soil does not interfere with their normal development.
- Lack of true roots - mosses and lichens are attached to the soil by small thread-like shoots.
The main varieties of mosses and lichens of the tundra are as follows:
- cuckoo flax;
- chylocomium;
- pleurocium;
- reindeer moss(reindeer moss).
Average height of moss reaches 15 cm. This is one of the largest lichens. Each light gray plant resembles appearance an amazing tree that has a “trunk” and thinner “branches”.
Wet moss lush and soft, a dry plant becomes hard, but very fragile, crumbling from the slightest mechanical impact. It has a very slow growth rate - only a few millimeters per year, which is why reindeer cannot be grazed on the same reindeer pasture for several years in a row.
Plants, grasses and shrubs of the tundra
Among flowering plants, perennial herbs, shrubs and shrubs are primarily represented. Shrubs and shrubs are very low, in winter they are completely covered snow cover. The most common types include the following:
Some are evergreen, others – deciduous. Tundra grasses are mostly perennial, the most common are grasses and sedges, and there are several types of legumes. What kind of grasses can be seen in the tundra zone:
- alpine meadow grass;
- alpine foxtail;
- squat fescue;
- arctic bluegrass;
- hard sedge;
- obscure penny;
- umbrella astragalus;
- the hollyweed is rather dirty;
- viviparous knotweed;
- European and Asian swimsuit;
- Rhodiola rosea.
Many representatives of the flora have large flowers of various colors: crimson, white, yellow, orange. Therefore, the summer blooming tundra looks very picturesque. Tundra vegetation well adapted to harsh conditions: the leaves of shrubs and shrubs are small - this reduces the evaporation of moisture from their surface, and the lower part of the leaf blade is densely pubescent, which also helps to avoid excessive evaporation.
The most common inhabitant of the tundra is dwarf birch, also called yornik. The height of such a plant is less than a meter, it grows not as a tree, but as a shrub, so it bears little resemblance to the birch we are used to, although these plants belong to related species.
The branches of the plant do not rise horizontally, but are spread out on the ground, the leaves are small, round and wide. In the summer season they have a rich green color, and by autumn they become crimson-red. The plant's catkins are also small, usually oval in shape.
Blueberry is a low deciduous shrub, whose length rarely reaches more than half a meter. The leaves are bluish in color, the flowers are small, white, sometimes with a pinkish tint. The fruits are round berries, similar to blueberries, but larger.
Cloudberry - perennial herbaceous plant . It has a thin rhizome, from which in the spring a stem grows with several rounded leaves and a single flower. By winter, the above-ground parts of the plant die off and appear again in the spring. The fruit is a complex drupe.
Fauna of the tundra
The fauna world in the tundra is unique. There is little food here, the climate is very harsh, so the animals have to adapt with all their might. That is why the fur of the local inhabitants is thick, and the birds have lush plumage.
The following animals can most often be found in the tundra:
- Reindeer.
- Polar Wolf.
- White Arctic partridge.
- Arctic fox.
- Polar owl.
- Lemming.
Arctic foxes feed on lemmings, so in winter predators migrate after their victims. In hungry years, animals often have to eat plant foods or even carrion.
By wintering they well adapted: the fur becomes thick and warm in the fall, helping animals survive even freezing temperatures. Interestingly, arctic foxes have small ears that are completely hidden in their fur - this way they are protected from frostbite.
Reindeer They love to eat reindeer moss: with their powerful hooves they pull out the lichen from under the snow. In summer, an abundance of birds flock here to nest: waders, ducks, geese, swans. They feed on a large number of insects: mosquitoes, gadflies and midges.
The flora and fauna of the tundra is an example of how in nature all the inhabitants learned to adapt to difficult conditions and survive in the harshest climate.
In the cold climate of the tundra many live fewer breeds animals than in our areas and even more so in hot countries. There is no forest there, and therefore purely forest animals are not found there - sables, squirrels, martens, or birds such as wood grouse or hazel grouse. There are very few breeds of small songbirds and even fewer breeds of insects. Only in the southernmost parts of the tundra are frogs and lizards found. Many of our fish are missing, but there are many other fish, northern ones, from the whitefish species.
But still, life in the tundra in summer is in full swing, and in some places you can see many animals, especially birds. It's a different matter in winter. In winter, the tundra is dead. In the coldest and darkest time, in the middle of winter, you can drive hundreds of miles across the tundra and not see any animal or bird.
Those animals that are found in the tundra live and reproduce freely there. There are few people there, many deserted places. Therefore, animals are relatively little exterminated and persecuted. In our forests, for example in the central provinces, many animals are completely killed. The beavers have disappeared, there are almost no moose left, and there are very few martens and wood grouse. The population is dense, people walk everywhere in the forests and cut them down, and cattle graze in the floodplains. There is a lot of space in the tundra, and in some places, far from each other, there are villages or nomads stand with deer. There is a place for animals and birds to stay and nest. But the hunter there usually gets enough to feed himself. He also catches fur-bearing animals, whose skins are sold, and birds in order to stock up on meat for the winter; Collects goose and duck eggs in the spring for food.
Of the large predatory animals on the sea shores of the tundra, you can rarely find polar bear. It is similar to our forest bear, but it is larger (there are polar bears weighing forty pounds), and its fur is white, like that of a gray horse. This bear actually lives on the ice of the sea, but sometimes it comes ashore to eat some carrion or wander around the land. He swims and dives well, eats fish and harbor seals. In summer, he almost never visits the shores of the tundra, but lives far in the north, on the ice of the Arctic Sea and on the polar islands. But in winter, industrialists sometimes kill bears coastal ice and on the banks, near Pechora, and along the entire Siberian coast, where people are. Everywhere in the north the polar bear is called oshkuy.
Real sea animals - walruses and seals - are even more committed to the sea. The walrus is a large animal, two fathoms long. Instead of paws, it has flippers, which are convenient for rowing in the water. The skin is thick, the hair on it is coarse, sparse, and there is a whole layer of fat under the skin. Two arshin-long fangs protrude down from his mouth. The bone of these fangs is no worse than ivory and is used for various crafts. Thick walrus skin is used to make the thickest and most durable belts. Salo, of course, also comes into play. Walruses often crawl out of the sea onto the shore, and sometimes the tundra inhabitants beat them with rifles. But they don't come across often.
There are many more seals. They are much smaller in height and have no fangs. But their skin and fat are also used. They are more common on coastal ice, which is called fast ice. All winter and sometimes until late summer, this ice stands off the coast in a wide strip, sometimes 10 miles from the coast, and sometimes 100. Behind it is floating ice, which is carried by the winds. It happens that the wind will tear the fast ice away from the shore and carry it out to sea, and then wash it back again. It is on this ice that the seals crawl out of the water through cracks or holes, which they themselves thaw (bleed through) from below. A seal lies on the ice near a hole. As soon as he sees a person or a bear, he will duck into his hole and disappear under the ice. This is where the industrialists beat them, crawling up to them carefully so as not to scare them away.
Wolves are quite numerous in the tundra. U northern wolves the fur is lighter than ours, and sometimes we come across completely white animals. They are large in stature. It is known that in our country wolves, especially in winter, huddle close to villages and try to drag sheep and dogs or feed on carrion. And in the summer they attack cattle in the field. Likewise, in the tundra, there are more wolves where large herds of domestic reindeer graze. Reindeer owners are very afraid of wolf attacks on the herd. The problem is not that the wolves will kill one or two deer, but that frightened deer can scatter far across the tundra, so that you can’t collect them later. It is difficult to fight wolves. These are cautious and cunning animals, able to guard against guns and traps. Hunters rarely manage to catch and kill them.
A fox also enters the tundra from forests and crooked woods. But foxes are not often found there. On the contrary, arctic foxes are numerous in the tundra. These animals are very similar to a fox in body type, but smaller in stature. In winter they are snow-white in color, and grayish in summer. Consequently, they change the color of their coat for the winter in the same way as our white hare. Occasionally in the tundra you come across arctic foxes, which have brownish-smoky fur in both winter and summer. In trade, such arctic foxes are called blue.
Arctic foxes are real northern animals. They are found on the polar islands (on Novaya Zemlya, Spitsbergen, Greenland and others) and in the tundra. In the sandy hills of the tundra, they dig deep burrows in which they raise their young. Arctic foxes reproduce quite quickly. One litter can have up to 16 puppies. Industrialists say there are more.
The value of the fox skin is great. Locally they now pay 40 rubles for a white winter fur, and up to 100 rubles and even more for a blue fox. Industrialists receive good earnings from catching arctic foxes. The bad thing is that in many areas they catch old and especially young Arctic foxes in the fall, which still have their gray, summer skin. These arctic foxes are called cross-haired foxes. The skin of a krestovatka costs only two rubles.
It is clear that catching them is harmful, since the animal is transferred in this way without sufficient benefit for the industrialist. It's like shooting a squirrel in the summer when the skin is no good. Government organizations and cooperatives that trade in fur are now prohibited from buying crosstails.
Arctic foxes are caught with traps and simple wooden traps called sloptsy or dies. These traps are set in such a way that the animal that touches the bait releases a heavy log. It falls on the beast and kills it. Throughout the tundra, up to fifty thousand Arctic foxes are caught per year.
The small but fast and predatory stoat also lives in the tundra. Its skin is brown in summer, and in winter, like the arctic fox, it is pure white, only the tip of its tail remains black. Such winter skins are valued at 2–3 rubles. Stoats are also caught using various traps. Stoats are found everywhere - in the forests of Siberia, in the steppes, and in the central Russian provinces. Sometimes the wolverine also comes from the forests into the clear tundra, an animal that usually lives in forests in the north. But wolverines are rarely seen in the tundra. IN large number Of the fur-bearing animals, only arctic fox and ermine are caught there.
In some places there are a lot of wild reindeer in the tundra. This animal is also found in forests, often, for example, in the Perm and Vologda provinces. But there are more deer in the tundra. There are places where they live in whole herds. There are fewer wild reindeer where herds of domestic reindeer, which are bred in the tundra, graze. Domestic deer are very similar to wild ones. But an experienced eye still distinguishes the latter by the way he runs and holds his head. Wild deer are very watchful, so hunting them is difficult. Shoot them to get delicious meat and skins. There are also wild reindeer on the distant polar islands.
Different breeds of deer have large, branchy antlers that fall off and grow back every year, just like elk. Reindeer also have large antlers. But in other deer only males have antlers; females are polled. U reindeer and females have horns, only smaller than those of males. The reindeer's fur is very thick and dense and protects it very well from the cold. Northerners make warm clothes from the skins of young deer.
White hares and all sorts of small animals also live in the tundra. Among these animals, the most remarkable are pieds. These are large mice with spotted skin and short tail. There are several breeds of them found in the tundra. In some places they multiply in enormous numbers, just like mice in our grain fields. Places of the tundra abundantly populated by pieds can be recognized immediately: all the soil is worn away by their burrows and passages. Mice scurry underfoot everywhere, sometimes running from place to place, sometimes disappearing again into the moss and holes. Arctic foxes and birds of prey that feed on them gather in such places where many pieds are born. And then the dogs get eaten by the mice.
It is clear that you don’t often see animals in the open tundra. Occasionally you will see a herd grazing in the distance wild deer, which quickly see or smell a person and rush away. Sometimes you will notice how a wolf sneaks through the grass or bushes, or how an arctic fox crawls out of a hole on the hillside. The beast sees and smells far away and tries to get away from the person. But you can see a lot of birds almost everywhere, and especially on river laids. Especially in spring, bird cries are heard from all sides, from lakes and dry tundra: flocks of birds fly from place to place and land on water and land.
It is clear that in the tundra almost all birds are migratory. With the onset of spring, geese and geese, swans, various breeds of ducks, birds of prey and a few breeds of small birds fly there. In spring and summer it is light all day long, and all day long you can see birds all around and hear their hubbub. Geese nest in pairs along the shores of lakes. And those that do not nest gather in herds. In mid-summer they molt. Both geese and swans, geese and ducks lose large feathers on their wings during molting. They cannot fly for two weeks during molting. At this time, they are driven on boats and driven into set nets. It happens that several hundred birds are caught at once. White partridges are numerous in the tundra. They also fly south in winter, to the forests, but fly back to the tundra early, in April, when they are still standing. very coldy. These partridges only turn white for the winter. In summer they are pockmarked, with a color similar to black grouse, but lighter. Partridges are also widely caught in the tundra for feathers and meat.
There are various sea ducks that fly to nest in the tundra, and then fly to the sea - to places where there is no solid ice. Eiders are important for fishing. The males of these birds have very bright and beautiful plumage, even more beautiful than that of the drakes of our ducks. Female eiders are pockmarked, like a mallard duck. When the eider makes a nest and lays eggs, she lines the nest with her down. This fluff is extremely delicate and is highly valued. It is better than swan, very light and used as a lining for a warm dress. This fluff is taken out of the nests.
In the northern countries of Europe, in Sweden, Norway and on the northern shores and islands of England, where there are also many eiders, these birds are protected. They try to have as many of them as possible nest on the banks. They are allowed to sit and take the children away from the nests, and then the fluff is taken out. The eggs, of course, are never taken out. In our tundras and on the shores of the White Sea and the Murmansk coast, on the contrary, industrialists often take eggs along with the down. This discourages birds from their nesting sites. It is clear that such actions are wrong. Industrialists are robbing themselves and depriving them of income for the future.
There are many different large and small waders living in the tundra, which also nest near the water and love swampy places. But there are much fewer breeds of birds of prey there than here. Large falcons, buzzards and great white owls live there. These predators also catch birds, but feed more on parrots. There are also few small birds. Snow plantains, which sing in the spring, and yellow and white wagtails live there.
Most birds are seen on river laids, where numerous waterbirds and various waders nest near lakes and swamps. Here, along the edges of the valleys, on the cliffs of the tundra, birds of prey also nest, having rich prey around them. In the dry, mossy tundra, far fewer birds are seen. Here, broods of partridges hang out in the bushes, plovers and great dark skuas, which look like gulls, nest. There are more birds of all kinds in the southern zone of the tundra, where the vegetation is richer. In the northernmost places, closer to the shores of the Arctic Sea, much fewer birds are visible. But there are also breeds that just nest there.
All this multitude of birds and animals is visible in the tundra only in summer. For the winter, birds fly south, and even some animals go into the forests; There are almost no animals left in the tundra. In the middle of winter, when the days are very short, or even it is all night, you can drive a thousand miles across the tundra and not see any animal or bird. It is difficult to feed there, and the animals leave there for more southern places. As we will see later, some of them are also people.
Although fewer fish species live in the rivers and lakes of the north than in the waters temperate climate, but there are a lot of fish there. Many of our fish, such as large pike, burbot, and roach, are also found in tundra lakes. Large sturgeon are caught in the lower reaches of the Ob and Yenisei. But there are even more whitefish of different breeds in the north. The names of these fish are muksun, shokur, pyzhyan, taimen, and herring.
Many different whitefish come from the sea into the rivers in the spring to spawn. At this time, at the beginning of summer, on big rivers tundra and catch especially a lot of fish. But in all deep lakes of the tundra that do not freeze to the bottom, you can fish with small nets. IN sunny days pikes often stand in the grass near the shores of lakes. In shallow places the fish are clearly visible, so you can always kill them with a gun. A lot of fish enter the rivers of Eastern Siberia from the sea. The fish come in large herds and sometimes crowd into small places towards the shore. At this time, arctic foxes and dogs catch fish from the shore, and in the forests bears, also fish hunters, are waiting for their arrival. It happens when there are a lot of fish that the bear pulls out one fish after another and eats off only the heads, so that heaps of fish remain on the shore. Both animals and birds eat up the fish during the course, and people store it for the whole year for themselves and as food for dogs.
Spring comes very quickly in the tundra. Suddenly warm days will come, the snow will begin to melt and water will rustle everywhere. The southern slopes of the hills will quickly become exposed and greenery will appear on them. And now insects will appear in the grass - bugs and various flies. But insects there, like plants, huddle close to the ground and fly little. There are also different butterflies there, but most are small and not bright, like ours, but dull in color. And you can hardly see them flying. In general, there are more mosquitoes in the tundra. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water. Their larvae live in water, and there is a lot of water in the tundra in summer. As soon as the weather gets warm summer days, so you won’t be able to live from mosquitoes. Clouds of them surround a person, getting into his eyes and mouth, so it’s difficult to do anything. You start boiling a pot or kettle on a fire, and mosquitoes pour in like rain. The face and neck become swollen from the bites, so you have to put a net over your face and a canvas mosquito net over your head and neck. But this doesn’t help either, since the bloodsuckers sneak under the dress. It is very difficult to herd deer in mosquito time. Mosquitoes torment them and the deer begin to scatter. They try to run against the wind so that the mosquitoes are blown away.
Therefore, in the summer in the tundra, the best quiet, warm days are the most difficult for people and animals. When it starts to blow strong wind or it will get colder, so that the time will become similar to our late autumn, it becomes easier. Mosquitoes disappear on such days - they do not rise from the ground. Much fewer of them are made closer to autumn, to Ilyin’s day, especially if the time is cool.
There is a lot of this vileness both in the taiga and in crooked forests, but it seems that there is more of it in the tundra swamps. True, the mosquito is very strong only in the southern zone of the tundra. Closer to the seashore, summer is colder, the winds are more frequent, and there are much fewer mosquitoes there, and on the very shores of the sea there are few at all.
However, in wild uninhabited places you have to suffer from mosquitoes everywhere. It happened that in Siberia, settlers left the places they occupied for living because they could not withstand the midges.
Loading...
