Tundra

The Tundra means treeless area and are is found in the regions below the ice caps of the Artic and extend across North America, Europe and Siberia, this landscape covers less than 20% of the earths surface and is covered by snow through 9 months of the year. 

Tundra's receives low amounts of precipitation making the tundra similar to a polar desert and is the coldest of the biomes.  This is a barren environment with few nutrients to support plant and animal life as below the top soil, is a layer of permafrost in which ground is permanently frozen year round.  1,700 species of plants and 48 species of and mammals are known to accommodate the Tundra; Flora that can survive have a stunted growth and are low growing consisting if mainly lichens and mosses, fauna species that live in the tundra include musk ox, artic hare, polar bear, artic fox, wolves, caribou, lemmings, voles and snowy owls. Three types of tundra exist depending on their location on the earth these are categorised as Alpine, Arctic or Antarctic.