In the north of Russia, from Chukotka to the Kola Peninsula, there is a tundra zone. It runs in a continuous strip and occupies no less than 14% of the Russian territory. This zone has very harsh climatic conditions. Winter here lasts up to 8 months, and the rest of the time falls on cool and short summer... And in July (the hottest month) it is only +10 degrees. Here, no one is surprised by frost or snow that fell in the middle of summer. And in these harsh conditions, plants and animals of the tundra manage to survive.
Permafrost is widespread almost throughout the vast territory of the tundra. And the soil in these places thaws only in summer and then to a shallow depth - 1.5-2 meters maximum, and often even less. And below this depth lies a permanently frozen ground. And this permafrost has a strong effect on plants in the tundra. Moreover, this influence is by no means positive. After all, such a close occurrence of the ice-bound soil does not allow the roots to grow deeper. They are forced to be content only. Also, permafrost does not allow moisture to seep down. And this contributes to the emergence of swamps.
Tundra plants are also forced to adapt to a special light regime - the polar day. Here the sun rises low in summer, but it shines around the clock. And thanks to this, local plants manage to receive quite enough light during a short growing season, at least not much fewer plants middle latitudes. in the tundra it is also higher, due to the purity and transparency of the atmosphere of this zone. And the local plants have perfectly adapted to such a long day and are developing well.
Thus, in the tundra, the topsoil is the most favorable for life. There is also enough heat here and in the lowest layer of air, which is adjacent to the ground itself. And these two layers can only measure a few centimeters. Therefore, one should not be surprised that many tundra plants are of short stature and are literally spread over the ground. And their root systems grow mainly horizontally, almost without deepening. And in these latitudes, many plants grow, the leaves of which are collected in a basal rosette, as well as all kinds of creeping shrubs and shrubs. They simply "learned" to make maximum use of the heat located near the ground, and at the same time to deal with strong local winds.
And the main plants of the tundra are mosses and lichens. There are many types of them here, and they often cover huge spaces with a solid carpet. Most of these mosses and lichens are associated not only with the tundra. For example, green mosses such as chylocomium, pleurotium, or lichens of the type are also found in forests. But there are also species of these plants that can be found only in the tundra. All of them tolerate well. These plants can winter both under snow cover and without it.
But the vegetation cover of the tundra is not so uniform. In some places, the carpet of moss and lichen is diluted. In other places, mainly dwarf shrubs grow - alpine bearberry, partridge grass, blueberries, veronica. And closer to the forest-tundra zone, there are shrub thickets consisting of low birches and willows. Also, closer to forests and in river valleys, the layer of permafrost is slightly deeper. The winds in these places are also not so severe. And here you can find trees such as larch and birch. But these tundra plants have a very miserable appearance, their height is no more than 6 meters.
And in summer period completely on the tundra a short time blossom various flowers such as forget-me-nots, polar poppies, bells, dandelions, buttercups, saxifrage and others. The plants growing here are mostly evergreen and perennial. They no longer need to waste precious time every year for growth and development, as well as for forcing foliage. But they grow slowly, gaining several millimeters per year. Also, closer to autumn, various berries ripen here, such as cloudberries, principality, lingonberries, cranberries and blueberries.
The natural zone of the tundra occupies about 5-7% of the land area of the planet. The climate of the zone is characterized by the absence of warm summer... In this climate, it lasts only a few weeks, and the average air temperature reaches 15⁰С. Low temperatures cause accumulation of moisture and this leads to the formation of wetlands in the area. In the tundra zone, the species composition of animals is small, but it is distinguished by a large number. The flora of the tundra requires special attention. It is rich in variety and beautiful. We invite you to familiarize yourself with a list of the most distinctive plants used to this climate.
Typical tundra plants
Heather
A shrub with unusually beautiful inflorescences. It is the national flower of Norway. The plant is saturated with a persistent tasty aroma. On a large number of leaves, small flowers of various colors are located. The plant is distinguished by a variety of species. The plant grows well in semi-shady places with small shrubs.
Kurapatach grass
The small flowering plant is often called "dryad" after the ancient Greek forest goddess of the nymph. Large snow-white flowers fell in love with people, so they are often planted in gardens. In addition, the plant includes wild partridges and geese in their winter diet. The plant has dense specific leaves, they remain green in winter.
Sedge
The plant loves moisture and cold temperatures. V wildlife sedges are very useful. The plant is considered classic and is used to surviving in different climates. In the tundra, animals eat sedge all year round, especially in winter. Deer, moose, rodents and muskrats are among the fans of sedge. The stem is shaped in such a way that it is easy for a person to cut it.
Blueberry
A popular plant, it is distinguished by a blue tint of foliage. The fruits are similar to blueberries, located between the small oval foliage of the plant. Blueberries are among the most common plants in the tundra. There are several types of shrubs of this plant.
Vodyanik
Evergreen shrub with medicinal properties... The branches of the plant are similar to spruce and are well distinguishable from many other plant species. In the middle of summer, they appear brightly on the bush pink inflorescences... After flowering, the plant forms round black berries. Hunters of the tundra often quench their thirst with juicy berries of crowberry, from which the name appeared. Due to its popularity, the plant has many names - sorceress, scarlet, etc.
Reindeer moss
Highly important plant for tundra animals in winter period... It is also called "reindeer moss", since during the nine months of cold weather, reindeer consume reindeer moss every day. The plant makes up 90% of the winter ration of the reindeer. Animals find it by smell even under a thick layer of snow. Yagel belongs to lichens, it is considered the largest and can reach a height of 15 cm.
Cloudberry
This herbaceous plant belongs to the raspberry genus. It is seasonal, since during the cold weather top part the cloudberry dies and only the root remains. Only by spring does a stem grow, on which leaves and flowers will grow. The plant's yellow-orange berries taste different from raspberries, just like its fruit itself. Cloudberry is a dioecious plant. This means that some plants bear male flowers, from which there are no fruits, and the second - only female ones, from which berries appear.
Willow
Each leaf and branch of the shrub is covered with thick hairs, they protect the willow from cold and frost. Reindeer wait a very long time for fresh leaves to appear on the bush. They are happy to use them for food, they are very useful for the health of animals. Reindeer can eat up to 7-10 kg of the leaves of this shrub per day.
Ledum
A beautiful plant with a lot of medium-sized flowers. The plant itself in the tundra climate can reach 1.5 meters. The stem is covered with villi that protect the wild rosemary from extreme cold. Flowers exude a bright and sugary aroma. It should not be inhaled for a long time, as it can cause headaches or dizziness. For the same reasons, tundra animals do not eat the plant, because it contains a large number of essential oils and poisonous substances.
Highlander viviparous
A small herb with narrow, oblong leaves. The long stem has small pink or white flowers. The viviparous mountaineer has an edible root and can be eaten raw or boiled.
Output
Each tundra plant has adapted to the harsh climate of the region in its own way. Most plants are eaten by animals, in winter time only a few of them are an effective source of beneficial micronutrients for reindeer, lemmings and many other inhabitants of the tundra.
With the arrival of spring, when the first warm rays of the sun help the tundra to throw off its winter outfit for a short time, the area turns into a bright, colorful carpet. On the hillocks the first flowers of saxifrage, artichoke, ice siversia appear, sedge and cotton grass bloom in the swamps. Behind these first-borns of the polar spring, the Kamchatka rhododendron flourishes. The buds that have swollen since last year are in a hurry to turn into buds and bloom. Many plants gain strength throughout the summer, but as soon as flowers appear, the first snow sprinkles them, preventing the seeds from ripening. They will ripen only by next spring.
In autumn, strong mushrooms that do not know rot in these places appear - boletus mushrooms. Here they are called birch trees. They are often taller than the trees near which they grow.
In river valleys and on slopes sheltered from the wind, dwarf birches, polar willow, and northern alder grow, which can be easily confused with grass. Their height does not exceed 30 - 50 cm. The tundra is rich in lingonberries, blueberries and junipers. In winter, the shrubs are covered with snow, which protects them from frostbite.
Polar willow.
Those who believe that the tundra is lifeless are wrong. No, she is beautiful and cheerful in her own way.
Let's get acquainted in more detail with the flora of our tundra.
Typical tundra is a treeless area with low and not always continuous vegetation cover. It is based on mosses and lichens, against the background of which undersized flowering plants- shrubs, shrubs, grasses. There are no trees in the real tundra - the living conditions here are too harsh for them. For a short and cold summer, it does not have time to fully form on young shoots. protective layer cover tissue, necessary for normal overwintering (without such a layer, young branches die in winter from water loss) .. Conditions for overwintering trees in the tundra are extremely unfavorable: strong drying winds, snow corrosion, which systematically "cuts" young trees and does not allow them to rise higher snow.
Another circumstance is also important - the low temperature of the tundra soil in summer, which does not allow the roots to compensate for the large losses of water by the aboveground part of the tree during evaporation (the so-called physiological dryness of tundra soils).
Only in the very south of the tundra zone, in more favorable climatic conditions, one can find individual trees. They grow against the background of characteristic tundra vegetation and stand quite far from each other, forming the so-called forest tundra.
Mosses and lichens play a very important role in the vegetation cover of the tundra. There are many types of them here, and they often form a continuous carpet over huge spaces.
Most of the mosses and lichens found in the tundra are not associated exclusively with the tundra zone in their distribution. They can also be found in forests. Such are, for example, many green mosses (pleurotium, chylocomium, cuckoo flax), lichens from the cladonia genus (this includes deer moss and other related and similar species). However, there are also specific tundra species of mosses and lichens.
Both mosses and lichens do well in the harsh conditions of the tundra. These undersized unpretentious plants can winter under the protection of even a thin snow cover, and sometimes even without it. The soil layer as a source of water and nutrients for mosses and lichens is almost not needed - they get everything they need mainly from the atmosphere. They do not have real roots, but only thin filamentous processes develop, the main purpose of which is to attach plants to the soil. Finally, mosses and lichens, due to their short stature, make the best use of the surface, warmest layer of air in summer.
The bulk of flowering plants of the tundra are shrubs, shrubs and perennial herbs... Shrubs differ from shrubs only in smaller sizes - they are almost the same in height as small grasses. But nevertheless, their branches are lignified, covered outside thin layer protective cork tissue and bear hibernating buds. It is quite difficult to draw a clear line between shrubs and shrubs.
On flat areas of the tundra, where the snow cover is shallow, both shrubs and dwarf shrubs are low, they do not rise above the snow. Among these plants we find some dwarf willow species (for example, herbaceous willow), wild rosemary, blueberry, crowberry, dwarf birch. It often happens that shrubs and dwarf shrubs are located in the thickness of a powerful moss and lichen cover, almost not rising above it. These plants seem to be looking for protection from mosses and lichens (in the forest, the situation is completely different). Some of the shrubs and shrubs are evergreen (crowberry, lingonberry, wild rosemary), others shed their leaves for the winter (various willows, dwarf birch, blueberry, arctous, etc.).
A person who first entered the tundra is especially surprised by dwarf willows. Some of them are extremely small, have creeping shoots spread among the moss carpet, and very much resemble some small herbaceous plants. Only by looking closely, you notice that these "herbs" have real willow earrings, though very small and short. The leaves of dwarf willows are also unusually small, unusual for us.
Almost all herbaceous plants of the tundra are perennial. There are very few annual grasses. This is explained by the fact that the tundra has too short and cold summers. It's hard to go through a full few cool summer weeks. life cycle- from seed germination to the formation of new seeds. This requires a very fast pace of development in low temperature conditions.
There are almost no plants in the tundra that develop juicy underground organs - tubers and bulbs. The late thawing permafrost tundra soil is unfavorable for the growth of such plants.
Perennial herbaceous plants of the tundra are distinguished by their short stature. Among them there are some grasses (fescue fescue, alpine meadow grass, arctic bluegrass, alpine foxtail, etc.) and sedges (for example, hard sedge). There are also a few legumes (astragalus umbellate, unclear penny, dirty ostrich). However, most of the species belong to the so-called forbs - representatives of various families dicotyledonous plants... Of this group of plants, one can name the viviparous mountaineer, the Eder's mytnik, the European and Asian swimsuits, the pink Rhodiola, the alpine willow, the forest and white-flowered geraniums. Salient feature tundra herbs - large, brightly colored flowers. Their color is the most varied - white, yellow, crimson, orange, blue, etc. When the tundra blooms, it looks like a motley colorful carpet. The tundra usually blooms immediately, suddenly - after the first warm days come. And many plants bloom at the same time. Due to the short warm period, flowering time different plants almost the same. There is no clear sequence of flowering of different species, which happens, for example, in a meadow or in a forest.
Winter sets in on the tundra quickly and suddenly, the soil is immediately frozen in place, and the plants freeze too. Summer ends abruptly. The arrival of winter finds plants in a state active life... After the first winter frosts, many of them stand with frozen, but lively leaves, with swollen flower buds, with half-ripe or almost ripe fruits.
Arctic summers are short and deceiving. In some years, tundra plants do not have time to bring mature seeds. Under these conditions, some of them developed the ability to live birth: instead of flowers, bulbs or nodules develop in inflorescences, capable of giving rise to a new plant during germination. Such a phenomenon can be observed, for example, in the viviparous mountaineer.
Many representatives of the tundra flora have adaptations aimed at reducing evaporation in summer time... The leaves of tundra plants are often small, and therefore the evaporating surface is small. The underside of the leaves, where the stomata are located, is often covered with dense pubescence, which prevents too much air movement around the stomata and, therefore, reduces water loss. In some plants, the edges of the leaves curl downward and the leaf itself looks like an incompletely closed tube. The stomata located on the underside of such a sheet end up inside the tube, which also leads to a decrease in evaporation.
Adaptations to reduce water loss are essential for tundra plants. In summer, the cold tundra soil greatly complicates the absorption of water by the roots of plants, while the above-ground organs located in the warm surface layer of the air have all the conditions for vigorous evaporation.
The vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra, its forms, methods of plant reproduction, adaptability to survival largely depend on the features that characterize these zones.
Geographical position
The location of the tundra zone falls on the Earth. On the continent of Eurasia, it stretches along the entire coast of the seas of the Arctic Ocean for tens of thousands of kilometers. North coast mainland North America also occupied by the tundra. The length of the zone from north to south is on average about 500 kilometers. In addition, the tundra occupies some islands near Antarctica. In the mountains, where the altitudinal zonation is expressed, mountain tundras are formed. Taking into account all the territories where the zone is located, its total area on the planet. It is about 3 million km2.
Forest tundra is the area where the small plots tundra vegetation and taiga vegetation. Forest-tundra stretches from west to east south of the tundra on the continents of Eurasia and North America. The length of the strip from north to south ranges from 30 to 400 kilometers. On its southern borders, the forest-tundra passes into the forest zone.
Climatic conditions affecting plant growth
The climate of the tundra and forest-tundra zone is very harsh. Winter lasts 6 to 8 months a year. During all this time, there is a constant snow cover, the air temperature sometimes drops to 50 degrees below zero. The polar night lasts about two months. Strong cold winds and snow storms almost never subside.
Summer in the tundra is short and cool. Frosts and precipitation in the form of snow are possible. Despite the surface of the earth does not receive much heat, since the sun does not rise high above the horizon and sends scattered rays to the earth. To survive in such conditions, tundra vegetation must adapt.
Influence of permafrost on the species composition of vegetation
In the warm season, in the tundra zone, the soil thaws only to a depth of no more than 50 centimeters. Next comes the permafrost layer. This factor is one of the decisive factors in the dispersal of plants in the tundra zone. The same factor affects their species diversity.
Permafrost has a significant impact on the terrain. Freezing and thawing of rocks leads to their deformation. As a result of the heaving process, surface forms such as bumps appear. Their height is no more than two meters above sea level, but the appearance of such forms also affects the vegetation of the tundra, its settlement over a certain territory.
Influence of soil on species diversity of vegetation
In the tundra and forest-tundra zone, a high is noted. It is especially noticeable during the period of snow melting. Water cannot penetrate deeply due to the presence of permafrost. Its evaporation also does not have a high intensity due to the low air temperature. For these reasons melt water and precipitation accumulates on the surface, forming large and small swamps.
High waterloggedness, presence of permafrost, prevalence of low temperatures hinder the course of chemical and biological processes in the soil. It contains little humus, iron oxide accumulates. Tundra-gley soils are suitable for the growth of only certain plant species. But the vegetation of the tundra also adapts to such living conditions. A person who has visited these parts during the flowering period of plants will have indelible impressions for many years - the flowering tundra is so beautiful and attractive!
In the forest-tundra, the natural fertile layer of land is also thinly paved. The soil is poor nutrients, it is characterized by high acidity. When the land is cultivated, a large amount of mineral and organic fertilizers... On the cultivated areas of the forest-tundra, there are more diverse types of herbaceous vegetation, trees and shrubs.
Types
The vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra largely depends on the type. Their landscapes only at first glance seem monotonous.
The hummocky and hilly tundra occupy the largest territories. Among the bogs, the plant turf forms hillocks and hummocks, on which many plant species take root. A special type of tundra is polygonal. Here you can observe in the form of large polygons, which are broken by depressions and frost cracks.
There are other approaches to the classification of such a natural zone as the tundra. What vegetation prevails in a certain area, this will be the type of tundra. For example, moss-lichen tundra consists of areas covered different kinds mosses and lichens. There are also shrub tundras, where thickets of polar willow, dwarf pine, and bushy alder are common.
Plants
As mentioned earlier, the vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra had to adapt to the harsh climatic conditions of the Earth's subarctic belt. Otherwise, her life and development would be impossible here.
The fitness of tundra and forest-tundra plants is expressed in the following. Most of the fauna are perennials. Annual plants with a short summer duration, they could not complete their life cycle. Only a small proportion of plants reproduce by seed. The main way to prolong life is vegetative.
The short stature of the tundra plants allows them to hold out during strong winds... This is also facilitated by the creeping nature of the shoots and their ability to intertwine with each other, forming a kind of soft pillow. In winter, all parts of the plants are covered with snow. This saves them from severe frosts... Most tundra and forest-tundra plants have a waxy coating on the leaves, which promotes moderate evaporation of moisture from their surface.
The vegetation of the tundra, photographs of certain species of which are in the article, is represented by perennial frost-resistant plants dominating in lowlands and swamps, buttercup, cotton grass, dandelion, and poppy. From trees grow dwarf birch, bushy alder. These tree species in the forest-tundra, they can already reach a height of three or more meters. Among the shrubs, blueberries, cloudberries, blueberries, and lingonberries are widespread. On the hills, mosses and lichens take root, many of which are the main type of food for the animals living in these places.
Forest-tundra and taiga
The vegetation of the tundra and taiga is very different from each other. Forest-tundra is a transitional zone between them. On the territory of the forest-tundra, among the treeless space, you can find islets of thickets of spruce, birch, larch and other tree species.
The forest-tundra zone is unique, since on its territory there is tundra vegetation and taiga vegetation, which becomes more noticeable as we move to the south. Plots of forest, consisting of individual species of trees and shrubs, create the most favorable conditions for the growth of herbaceous vegetation. Thanks to trees and shrubs, the wind speed is reduced, large quantity snow, which covers plants, saving them from freezing.
Study of the vegetation of the subarctic belt
The vegetation cover of the tundra and forest-tundra has not yet been fully studied. A systematic scientific description of the species growing here began only in the middle of the last century.
To continue this work, special expeditions are being created today. In the course of them, scientists are also trying to establish how the animals living in these zones affect the vegetation of the tundra and forest-tundra. They want to get answers to questions about whether the species diversity of plants changes in areas protected from the presence of certain animal species, how long it takes to full recovery destroyed vegetation. So far, scientists have not found answers to all questions regarding the natural balance in the subarctic belt of the planet.
Fauna protection
The nature of the tundra and forest-tundra is very vulnerable. It takes more than a dozen years, and in some cases even centuries, to restore the soil layer and vegetation cover.
Man has long understood that it is he who has a destructive effect on the nature of the tundra and forest-tundra. In trying to atone for their guilt, humans have created whole line reserves, national parks, nature reserves. They are located both in Russia and other countries of the world.