Tundra as the Plainest Biome - Essay Example

In Focus: Tundras All organisms from the simplest up unto the most complicated reside in their own niches where growth is accessible. These areas having same climate patterns, flora and fauna have been termed as biomes. There are about six main biomes existing namely the arctic tundra, deciduous forests, desert, taiga, tropical rainforests, and tropical davannah but up unto now, scientists are arguing on its real number. The location of these biomes are widely scattered throughout the earth, sustaining ecological balance (Campbell 1030).   Raven stated (567) that tundra is a Finnish word meaning barren or land without trees. This biome has been the most plain because of its variety and those of the food chains existing within it. Tundra is typically in high altitude hence long, cold, dark winters last for 6 to 10 months and further divided to three specific types which are; High Arctic Tundra found at the islands of the Arctic Ocean where ice-fractured rock debris are formed; Middle Arctic Tundra at Arctic Coastal plain, patterned ice ground or rock polygons; and Low Arctic Tundra stretching out on the drained slopes of the Arctic coastal plain. Lichens, mosses, sedges, birches and willows and other dwarfed shrubs comprise Tundras’ vegetation. These plants benefit from the climate pattern creating a variety of small habitats and plant communities.   In an any given habitat or biome, there are biotic and abiotic factors interacting influencing the species distribution. Biotic factors refer to living things, processes occurring within them that can directly or indirectly affect other organisms such as predation, wastes, and their body parts. On the other hand, abiotic factors are confined with the nonliving components such as light intensity, temperature range, type of soil or rock, water availability and other concerns which are not related with the living organisms thriving in the biome (Hamann 1328).   Reich et.al (13730) write that due to its given location, a Tundra receives small amount of sunlight compared with the other biomes thereby affecting its flora and fauna. The food chains are very short in contrast with other biomes. Moreover, plants with its trophic levels are minimal, due to the harsh conditions of the biome. It has no true soil preventing tree growth but instead it has plants adapted with its cold environment resulting to both micro and macro habitats for a variety of species. Species thriving in a Tundra have particular adaptations among them to be able to survive the harsh conditions, and are found to have large and compact bodies with feathers or fur for insulation purposes, also changing in color depending on the season, serving protective purposes for the birds (Raven 457). Because of its cold climate, organisms are capable of fat accumulation during the short growing season, hence this fat would also serve as insulation and source of energy for the winter season.   Predation is a means of survival for the animals. Since there is low vegetation because the biome has no true soil that can support the growth of trees and other plants, often they would eat one another. As such, the animal having bigger size wins over the small ones (Reich 13735). The trophic level of the primary consumer, usually a herbivore like that of lemmings (small rodents eating plants) in the Tundra is at stake to that of the secondary consumer, usually a carnivore like that of an arctic fox. The trophic level ( feeding position) of the secondary consumer is a notch higher to that of the primary consumer, where in the bigger organisms survive over the small. And as the food chain continues, the wastes of the carnivore could not be used as soil fertilizer encouraging plant or tree growth since a Tundra has no true soil. Instead, therein reside bacteria and other tiny life forms that recycle organic waste material. The low temperature of the Tundra allow the organisms to process their wastes slowly helping the system to continue (Hamann 1328).   The energy obtained from the trophic level allow daily activities to continue and help achieve or maintain the ecological balance within Tundra. The snowy owls are well adapted to the Tundra life, eating almost a dozen of lemmings everyday. In times where there are no hunt for lemmings, they fly to other areas in search for food to feed their owlets. In addition, despite the fact that there are many secondary consumers after the lemmings, they have been equipped with a reproductive system that can give rise to 9-12 lemmings in weeks’ time, so that even with daily predation they can still maintain their population (Smith 195).   Plants have been affected by abiotic factors such as temperature and light resulting to community change. Plants in Tundra are small, about four inches high, and have a surrounding mat unto the ground, allowing them to absorb solar heat. Plants stay close to the ground where they get the nutrients needed for growth. Also, instead of being totally influenced by the abiotic factors, plants use it for their own benefit. These changes affect the plant community in particular since changes in abotic factors can result to both an increase and decrease of plant varieties. As the primary producers had been affected, it follows that the other trophic levels would be affected as well (Smith 197).   A decrease in the population of sedges (monocot flowering plant) would brought stress to the food chain. As the primary producer decreased, lemmings would decrease in population because of food scarce. Also, it can lead to diseases of this species affecting the consumers in succession. Lemmings as it is being eaten by arctic foxes and snowy owls would also affect the population of these species, since lemmings are not available, the tendency is to eat their kinds or that of other species. As the trophic levels had been subjected to change then it follows that the succeeding trophic levels would be affected as well. Also, if food chains are shorter and can be easily interrupted by the interaction of both abiotic and biotic factor, hence food webs are also shortened, since there are no different food chains interacting to create a food web for Tundra (Smith 198).   As it is evident, minor changes brought about by the abiotic or biotic factord can disturb the organisms and the environment. Disturbances are the offshoot of the imbalance in an ecological system. Soil is very important in growing plantd or trees, and since a Tundra has no true soil, there are limited plant species that can grow in the environment. In primary succession, volcanic eruption can result to soil transfer in a Tundra, and because of the climate pattern, the soil transferred has been retreated by glaciers. With these conditions, lichens and mosses can reside in the environment (Campbell 1042). It has coped with the growth of other plant species and in time overthrew the population of small plants. Competition among plants is also common, similar to animals where those bigger in size and more equipped with structures win over those who are smaller and with limited structures for adaptation and survival (Reich 13735).   Succession occurs mainly due to competition among individual species for the available resources. Smith (158) states that (158) the resources are changing, as it is affected by light, temperature, climate pattern and other abitoic factors, hence variety of species have also been competing for survival at different rates. If animals use their body parts to attack smaller animals or to protect themselves against enemies, it is similar with plants. They have also evolved in order to grow and reproduce and be able to resist the changes occurring in their environment (Smith 245).   Succesion does not only involve different plant varieties, but also humans are the major contributing factors for a secondary succession to occur. A Tundra as it is denuded by fire or human activities, can still be recovered. The abiotic factors will allow the growth of primary producers encouraging consumer organisms to thrive, thereby creating an interacting community despite its conditions (Raven 125). A Tundra can also be subjected to primary or secondary succession. Upon colonization of plants and new organisms, the abiotic factors will stop changing, cooperating with the biotic factors and eventually establishing a climax community. As it is being exposed to colonization, revitalization and displacement cycles, it becomes diverse (Campbell 1045). With the Tundra undergoing succesion, it will allow the biome to have variety of species not only limiting to animals who have structures fitted for the community. In addition, if variety of species are present, it would result to food chains and complex food webs. But still the question of community reaching its maximum remains an aspect that needs to be further studied. The process of colonization, revitalization and displacement cycles make changes for the biome, but the extent is still not certain (Reich 13736).   Smith (167) asserts that changes brought about by succesion can also be affected by humans. Humans are the movers for the biome, the activities undertaken can directly affect both organisms and environment. A single change in the abiotic and biotic factors can generate major impact for the biome affecting all organisms. No matter how simple or complex each one may be, it has an important purpose in complicating the food web.   The different biomes of the world have their specific purposes and classifications are man-made; hence the differences of each biome is trivial. Each biome has been a home to a particular plant and organism, continuing their growth and development throughout the years. Succession is inevitable particularly those brought about by nature which is uncontrollable. However, the ones brought about by human activities must be controlled, to continuously maintain the harmonious relationship of our ecological system (Raven 247).   References Campbell, Neil, Reece, Jane and Mitchell, Lawrence. Biology 5th edition.USA: Addison-   Wesley Publishing Company Inc.,1999.   Hamann, Hillary, Mark V. Losleben and Mark W. Williams. Alpine Areas in the Colorado Front Range as Monitors of Climate Change and Ecosystem Response. The Geographical Review. 92. (1999).1327-1344.   Reich, Peter, Michael B. Walters, and David S. Ellsworth. From tropics to tundra: Global convergence in plant functioning .Proceedings of National Academic Sciences. 94.(1997):13730-13734.   Raven, Peter, Evert, Ray and Eichhorn, Susan. Biology of Plants. USA: W.H. Freeman. 1999.   Smith, Robert Leo and Smith, Thomas. Elements of Ecology (6th Edition). New York: Benjamin Cummings. 2005. Read More