Tundra is a natural area, far from caressing the eye with lush vegetation. Only organisms adapted to harsh conditions can develop and live here. In recent years, environmental problems have become aggravated in the tundra zone, and the appearance of the territory is changing beyond recognition. Extractive industries, transport and processing industries are developing. Environmental organizations and environmentalists are concerned about the ongoing changes, the aggravation of the situation beyond the Arctic Circle.
Features of the tundra as a natural area
The northern treeless area dominated by mosses and lichens extends along the shores and partly on the islands of the seas of the Arctic Ocean. The main distinguishing features of this natural area are the harsh climate and the absence of forests. In the tundra, pillow plants with a shallow root system grow advantageously. In summer, a thin surface layer of soil poor in humus thaws, permafrost spreads below.
The relief in the tundra is diverse: vast lowlands alternate with uplands. The nature of the surface can be peaty, rocky or swampy. On the peaks of the Northern Urals and further to the east, mountain tundras are common.
Severe tundra climate
Frosts in this natural area last from 6 to 8 months a year. In spring, with an abundance of sunlight and in the conditions of a polar day, there is little heat. Summer ends quickly, in August the bad weather, rains and snow already begin. Almost simultaneously with winter, the polar night begins, its duration is up to six months. The sun does not appear above the horizon, but during the day there is a period resembling twilight, when a reddish band of dawn is visible in the sky. Environmental problems in the tundra zone are associated not so much with the severity of the climate as with the vulnerability of nature. The thin soil layer is easily destroyed by tracks of all-terrain vehicles, wheels and skids of other modes of transport. Violation of the root system leads to the death of plants.
Vegetation features
Most representatives of the flora in the tundra are pillow or creeping forms - they are pressed to the soil with stems and leaves. This makes it easier to preserve the vegetative organs under a thin snow cover and in strong winds. Many environmental problems in the tundra zone are related to the fact that only 2 months of a short summer are suitable for development, the formation of fruits and seeds. Flowering plants have to adapt. Some switched to vegetative reproduction, others retainfruits and seeds under the snow until next summer. The first option significantly increases the evolutionary chances for the survival of the species. With vegetative propagation, there are no problems due to the impossibility of pollinating flowers by insects or other animals.
In the tundra there are trees and shrubs, they also creep. Most often, small forests of polar willow, dwarf birch grow along river banks, where the soil thaws better. There are many types of berry shrubs in the tundra (cranberry, blueberry, cloudberry, lingonberry).
Tundra problems
A significant part of the tundra zone lies on the coast, but the plants are constantly lacking moisture. Precipitation in this area falls on average 200 ml/year, mainly in the form of summer rains. Cold water is poorly absorbed by the roots of plants, in addition, it does not seep into the soil due to permafrost. With low temperatures and low rainfall, excessive moisture is observed, which exacerbates environmental problems in the tundra zone.
Wamping occurs everywhere, deteriorating the oxygen supply to the underground organs of plants. Gley tundra soils are formed - a special type of substrate with a low humus content and a large amount of moisture. When the soil is destroyed, the vegetation cover becomes poorer. Animals are forced to roam long distances or die from starvation.
Preserving connections in the tundra ecosystem
Let's give a specific example illustratingrelationships between natural components in the tundra. One of the groups of organisms in this zone has received the common name "reindeer moss". This is mainly reindeer moss, which belongs to the lichens of the genus Cladonia. Some environmental problems in the tundra zone are associated with a decrease in the area occupied by it. Reindeer feed on reindeer moss, the reduction of its range negatively affects the state of the population of various animals. Reindeer moss plantations are disturbed by mining, road construction, housing estates and industrial plants. We list the main problems that arise in the tundra ecosystem with human intervention:
- disturbance of soil cover;
- declining biodiversity;
- pollution of nature as a result of the extraction of raw materials;
- accumulation of domestic and industrial waste;
- overgrazing on reindeer pastures;
- depletion of fauna as a result of poaching.
To preserve the tundra, restrictions are being introduced on reindeer grazing, environmentalists are making sure that the herds are driven to other areas on time. During the construction of oil and gas pipelines, measures are taken to increase the number of typical plants and animals. A fight against poachers is being carried out, in which employees of tundra reserves and sanctuaries are actively involved. Rare and endangered representatives of flora and fauna are taken under protection.
