In GCSE Geography students will look at some of the varying climates on planet Earth. This quiz looks in particular at the extreme climate of the tundra, found in the Arctic Circle and some mountain tops.
Tundras are one of the Earth’s most extreme climates. Their combination of cold and dry conditions mean few species are able to survive the harsh environment of a tundra. Found in the Arctic Circle and on top of mountains, tundras are cold places where rainfall is rare and limited and snow is present throughout the winter and often part way into the summer.
Trees are rare in a tundra though cushion plants might survive in the depressions of rock. Summer warmth together with rare rainfall can bring out a wash of summer flowers. In the Arctic Circle the summer growing season is normally only 50-60 days, when the Sun shines 24 hours a day. All the species that have adapted to live in the tundra are extremely sensitive to changing climatic conditions.
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The foundation of this ecosystem is permafrost up to 450m deep. Only melting in the summer to form shallow bogs and pools, this ground is solid and impossible for the roots of most plants to penetrate.
The specific characteristics of the Tundra are:
- Extremely cold climate.
- Low biotic diversity.
- Simple vegetation structure
- Limitation of drainage
- Short season of growth and reproduction
- Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material
- Large population oscillations
Reptiles and amphibians are rare in the tundra because of the extreme cold, and mammals normally hibernate or migrate south to survive the winter. Most bird species migrate to avoid the worst of the winter weather. All species attempt to reproduce and raise their young during the extremely short summer season.
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1.
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What is the definition of a tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
Any area of forest in the Artic Circle |
| [ ] |
Any desert that receives annual snowfall |
| [ ] |
The ecosystem commonly found on high mountains and valleys. The cold conditions preclude tree growth, leaving the area treeless |
| [ ] |
A vast, flat, treeless Arctic or mountainous region in which the subsoil is permanently frozen |
|
|
|
2.
|
14% of Earth’s carbon is tied up in permafrost. As the climate warms up this carbon will be released. What will this do to the Earth’s climate? |
|
| [ ] |
Massively increase global climate change |
| [ ] |
Slow global climate changes |
| [ ] |
It's not clear what this release of greenhouse gases will do |
| [ ] |
Increase pollution and global dimming |
|
|
|
3.
|
Species such as the Artic fox have adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of the tundra. What will be the possible impact of climate change on this sort of species? |
|
| [ ] |
They will thrive as the conditions improve |
| [ ] |
Species such as the red fox can move north and out-compete the Arctic fox |
| [ ] |
The change in climate will kill the Artic fox the second temperatures rise above a critical number |
| [ ] |
Melting Artic Ice will leave nowhere for the fox to live |
|
|
|
4.
|
Why are ecosystems such as the tundra often compared to deserts? |
|
| [ ] |
Yearly precipitation is between 15-25 cm per year on average |
| [ ] |
The lack of species in the area |
| [ ] |
The low levels of human population in the area |
| [ ] |
Underneath the snow the terrain is the same as in a desert |
|
|
|
5.
|
Why do flowers bloom rapidly in the Artic summer? |
|
| [ ] |
Due to migration during this period there are no grazing animals to eat the flowers |
| [ ] |
Summer is the only time of the year when there is available water for the plants to use |
| [ ] |
Summer is the only time of year when animals are around to eat the seeds |
| [ ] |
Summer is very short |
|
|
|
6.
|
Why does soil take so long to form on the tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
The snow destroys the soil and as it melts it washes away what has formed |
| [ ] |
The cold conditions mean that bacterial and fungal action is slowed, so it takes much longer for things to break down |
| [ ] |
There is plenty of soil but it's all locked up in the form of permafrost |
| [ ] |
There are no animals or plants to die or leave waste to decompose |
|
|
|
7.
|
Which of these is not a way mammals such as the Artic fox have adapted to life in the extreme conditions of a tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
A layer of insulating fat |
| [ ] |
Small ears and limbs |
| [ ] |
A black coat to absorb more heat from the sun |
| [ ] |
A thick coat to trap the warmth |
|
|
|
8.
|
Why can’t most reptiles survive the conditions in the tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
Reptiles are ectotherms, meaning that they get the heat they need for functions from outside, by basking. Getting warm in the tundra is difficult |
| [ ] |
There are too many predators in the tundra that can eat reptiles whilst they are warming up in the morning |
| [ ] |
Reptiles never evolved on continents that have a tundra |
| [ ] |
Reptiles are endothermic, meaning that they generate their own body heat and give it off rapidly. In the cold of the tundra they would lose body heat too fast |
|
|
|
9.
|
Why is hibernation a useful strategy during the winter for mammals living in the tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
It allows them to avoid the period when it's dark and they can't see to hunt |
| [ ] |
It allows them to survive during a period when food is limited and weather conditions extreme |
| [ ] |
The hibernation period is when the animals are pregnant and it would be dangerous to hunt |
| [ ] |
Mammals need sunlight to warm up of a morning, so their only choice is to hibernate |
|
|
|
10.
|
What causes the largest population oscillations of animal numbers in the tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
Many animals die off each winter and young are born the following spring |
| [ ] |
Lack of food during the winter months causes many animals to die |
| [ ] |
Seasonal migrations affect numbers as animals leave for the winter and return the following spring |
| [ ] |
Seasonal hunting by indigenous populations affects animal numbers |
|
|
|
1.
|
What is the definition of a tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
Any area of forest in the Artic Circle |
| [ ] |
Any desert that receives annual snowfall |
| [ ] |
The ecosystem commonly found on high mountains and valleys. The cold conditions preclude tree growth, leaving the area treeless |
| [x] |
A vast, flat, treeless Arctic or mountainous region in which the subsoil is permanently frozen |
|
|
|
2.
|
14% of Earth’s carbon is tied up in permafrost. As the climate warms up this carbon will be released. What will this do to the Earth’s climate? |
|
| [x] |
Massively increase global climate change |
| [ ] |
Slow global climate changes |
| [ ] |
It's not clear what this release of greenhouse gases will do |
| [ ] |
Increase pollution and global dimming |
|
|
|
3.
|
Species such as the Artic fox have adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of the tundra. What will be the possible impact of climate change on this sort of species? |
|
| [ ] |
They will thrive as the conditions improve |
| [x] |
Species such as the red fox can move north and out-compete the Arctic fox |
| [ ] |
The change in climate will kill the Artic fox the second temperatures rise above a critical number |
| [ ] |
Melting Artic Ice will leave nowhere for the fox to live |
|
|
|
4.
|
Why are ecosystems such as the tundra often compared to deserts? |
|
| [x] |
Yearly precipitation is between 15-25 cm per year on average |
| [ ] |
The lack of species in the area |
| [ ] |
The low levels of human population in the area |
| [ ] |
Underneath the snow the terrain is the same as in a desert |
|
|
|
5.
|
Why do flowers bloom rapidly in the Artic summer? |
|
| [ ] |
Due to migration during this period there are no grazing animals to eat the flowers |
| [ ] |
Summer is the only time of the year when there is available water for the plants to use |
| [ ] |
Summer is the only time of year when animals are around to eat the seeds |
| [x] |
Summer is very short |
|
|
|
6.
|
Why does soil take so long to form on the tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
The snow destroys the soil and as it melts it washes away what has formed |
| [x] |
The cold conditions mean that bacterial and fungal action is slowed, so it takes much longer for things to break down |
| [ ] |
There is plenty of soil but it's all locked up in the form of permafrost |
| [ ] |
There are no animals or plants to die or leave waste to decompose |
|
|
|
7.
|
Which of these is not a way mammals such as the Artic fox have adapted to life in the extreme conditions of a tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
A layer of insulating fat |
| [ ] |
Small ears and limbs |
| [x] |
A black coat to absorb more heat from the sun |
| [ ] |
A thick coat to trap the warmth |
|
|
|
8.
|
Why can’t most reptiles survive the conditions in the tundra? |
|
| [x] |
Reptiles are ectotherms, meaning that they get the heat they need for functions from outside, by basking. Getting warm in the tundra is difficult |
| [ ] |
There are too many predators in the tundra that can eat reptiles whilst they are warming up in the morning |
| [ ] |
Reptiles never evolved on continents that have a tundra |
| [ ] |
Reptiles are endothermic, meaning that they generate their own body heat and give it off rapidly. In the cold of the tundra they would lose body heat too fast |
|
|
|
9.
|
Why is hibernation a useful strategy during the winter for mammals living in the tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
It allows them to avoid the period when it's dark and they can't see to hunt |
| [x] |
It allows them to survive during a period when food is limited and weather conditions extreme |
| [ ] |
The hibernation period is when the animals are pregnant and it would be dangerous to hunt |
| [ ] |
Mammals need sunlight to warm up of a morning, so their only choice is to hibernate |
|
|
|
10.
|
What causes the largest population oscillations of animal numbers in the tundra? |
|
| [ ] |
Many animals die off each winter and young are born the following spring |
| [ ] |
Lack of food during the winter months causes many animals to die |
| [x] |
Seasonal migrations affect numbers as animals leave for the winter and return the following spring |
| [ ] |
Seasonal hunting by indigenous populations affects animal numbers |
|
|
