ZOOLOGIST
Animals and their relationships in the Siberian tundra
|Arlene|
ANIMALS FOUND IN THE SIBERIAN TUNDRA
Musk OxDesired by their thick layer of wool and outer coat of long brown hair, the Musk Ox was constantly hunted. Until now, the population was able grow again. Their fur enables them to handle the harsh weather conditions in the Tundra. Musk oxen are either in herds or small pacts. Their hooves are round with sharp rims which is good for traction in the icy and rocky environment. Due to their territorial personality, one purpose of the Musk Oxen's horns is for defence.
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Arctic FoxThe colour of the Arctic Fox's fur depends on the season. During the summer, it either has a brown or gray coat and a white coat during the winter. Their main diet consists of lemmings. The Artic Fox's population rely heavily on the availability of Lemmings.
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LemmingsEach generation of lemmings have either and abundance or a decrease in population. When the population becomes too big, some lemmings may search for a new place to live. Unfortunately, wide rivers and lakes stand in their way which is the most common cause of death for lemmings after migration.
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Predator/Prey Relationships Adaptions
The amount of time that the two animals react to each other is two years.
Ex: Two years after an increase in the artic fox population, there will be a decrease in lemmings. |
One adaption is that the artic fox has an increased blood circulation to ensure that their paws will not stick to the ice. Another example is the large hooves on a reindeer for them to have the ability to travel far in the harsh weather conditions of the tundra.
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Invasive Species
Invasive species such as the Stoat and the Weasel have caused disruption to the biome. They feed on plants and other animals such as the birds in the area. This causes a decrease of the native population in the tundra.
Food Chain and Web
How Human Activity Affects the Tundra
The tundra has gone through many environmental changes due to global warming. There are oil reserves that companies seem to not keep their hands off of. The result of human activity within the oil industry has left parts of the artic polluted. The Arctic and Tundra are a fragile environment and should be treated with care.