Tundra

In physical geography, tundra is an area where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term "tundra" comes from Kildin Sami t??ndra, the genitive of tundar, "treeless plain".

Antarctic tundra

Antarctic tundra occurs on Antarctica and on several antarctic and subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the Kerguelen Islands. Antarctica is mostly too cold and dry to support vegetation, and most of the continent is covered by ice fields. However, some portions of the continent, particularly the Antarctic Peninsula, have areas of rocky soil that support tundra. Its flora presently consists of around 250 lichens, 100 mosses, 25-30 liverworts, around 700 terrestrial and aquatic algai species, which live on the areas of exposed rock and soil around the shore of the continent. Antarctica's two flowering plant species, the Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis), are found on the northern and western parts of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Related Topics:
Antarctica - South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - Kerguelen Islands - Antarctic Peninsula - Liverworts - Algai - Antarctic hair grass - Antarctic pearlwort

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In contrast with the arctic tundra, the Antarctic tundra lacks a large mammal fauna, mostly due to its physical isolation from the other continents. Sea mammals and sea birds, including seals, penguins, inhabit areas near the shore, and some small mammals, like rabbits and cats, have been introduced by humans to some of the subantarctic islands.

Related Topics:
Seals - Penguins - Rabbits - Cats

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The flora and fauna of Antarctica and the Antarctic Islands (south of 60º south latitude) are protected by the Antarctic Treaty.

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WWF antarctic tundra ecoregions

The WWF divides antarctic tundra into a number of ecoregions, depending on location:

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Antarctic ecoregions

• Marielandia Antarctic tundra (Antarctic Peninsula)
• Maudlandia Antarctic desert (eastern Antarctica)
• Scotia Sea Islands tundra (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands,Bouvet Island)
• Southern Indian Ocean Islands tundra (Crozet Islands, Prince Edward and Marion islands, Heard Island, Kerguelen Islands, McDonald Islands)

Australasia ecoregions

• Antipodes Subantarctic Islands tundra (Australia, New Zealand)