The Arctic’s Flat, Treeless Zone: The Tundra

The tundra is the vast, treeless biome encircling the Arctic Ocean. Its defining feature is permafrost—permanently frozen subsoil—that limits root growth and drainage. Despite harsh conditions (short summers, long winters, low precipitation), the tundra supports a specialized community:

• Mammals: caribou/reindeer, musk ox, Arctic fox, polar bear (coastal)
• Birds: snowy owl, ptarmigan, migratory waterfowl
• Plants: mosses, lichens, sedges, dwarf shrubs

Climate change is rapidly altering the tundra, thawing permafrost, shifting species ranges, and releasing stored carbon.