The polar ecosystem, in which the beauty of its landscape and the hardness of its conditions are mixed in equal parts, has always caught our attention. It is one of the areas of the planet in which life is more complicated, precisely due to the type of climate and other extreme conditions that occur in the poles.
Continue reading this ecology article to know everything about the Polar ecosystem, its characteristics, fauna and flora.
Polar ecosystem: characteristics
The polar ecosystem is, without a doubt, one of the most inhospitable that exists on this planet. Therefore, we will detail some of the Main characteristics of the polar ecosystem:
Climatology
Temperatures rarely exceed 0ºC and are accompanied by winds of up to 100 km/h under the large pressure differences.
Water cycle
Regarding the water cycle in the poles, it should be noted that there is a lot of fresh water in a solid state, a characteristic to which all living beings that live there must adapt. The large ice masses extend not only to the earth’s surface, but also to the marine surface. Below 0ºC there are no liquid water courses. As for rainfall, they are usually scarce and are given in the form of snow, which quickly transforms into ice.
ALBEDO AND ULTRAVIOLETA RADIATION
The Albedo is defined as the percentage of radiation that reflects the earth’s surface with respect to the total incident radiation. In the poles, the Albedo is especially high. Ultraviolet radiation is also greater than in the rest of the planet.
Light cycles in the polar ecosystem
The differences between the hours of light and dark a day, which can reach 24h of light and 24 hours of darkness, directly affect the low terrestrial and pelagic vegetation, as well as the fauna that inhabits these lands.
The polar ecosystem is found in the planet Earth polesboth in the Arctic (North Pole) as in him Antarctic (South Pole). The main difference between them is that the Arctic is made up of a thick layer of ice that floats on the ocean, while the Antarctic sits on the earth’s surface.
Also note that the polar ecosystem suffers seasonal cycles of expansion and withdrawal. Around is the periglacial area of Tundra and Permafrost, with which close ecological relationships are established.
Polar ecosystem fauna
Fauna has specific adaptations to polar climate. White furs and feathers are common that mimet with the ice cover. On the other hand, animals also usually have a thick fatty layer under the skin that allows them to isolate themselves from the cold. Likewise, behavioral patterns have been modified to overcome the coldest months, such as hibernations and migrations.
Next, we describe some Polar ecosystem fauna species Better known:
- Polar or white bear (Ursus maritimus): It is the only one Arctic superdedor. Although its fur looks white, it is translucent, with hollow hair and dark skin that help to take advantage of heat. They feed especially for seals and other marine mammals. Here we explain everything about your state the polar bear is in danger of extinction.
- Arctic fox (Vulpes Lagopus): It is a visiting predator that usually follows white bears, feeding on the carrion they leave in its path.
- Penguins (Spheniscidae): There are several species of penguins in the Antarctic Polar Ecosystem or the South Pole. These curious birds have lost the ability to fly and have adapted their limbs to life in the water, where fish and other animals hunt. That is why they have a very aerodynamic body, with their legs making the fins. Learn more about them with this other post in which we talk about where penguins live and what they feed on.
Discover much more about polar fauna with this other ecology article about which animals live in the North and South Pole.
Polar ecosystem flora
The vegetation in the polar ecosystem It is very scarce. In fact, only vascular vegetation is found in Tundra areaswhere they abound herbaceous plants and shrubsand even some riverside forests in the valleys and places with less wind.
Very simple small plants proliferate, such as mosses, algae and lichens. All these plants have in common the absence of vascular structures, that is, of body structures specialized in the transport of gross or elaborate sap, many of them being briophite plants. In general, they take the water from the environment by absorption, since it is not usually available in any other way.
In polar ecosystems we can discover a wide diversity of Microscopic algaelike diatoms. Since they have to adapt to very hard conditions of temperature, light and salinity, with great changes throughout the year, they present very interesting adaptive strategies: some, for example, secrete a layer of “mucus” to protect the surface of the cell from ice crystals. Those that live on surface secrete special pigments to protect themselves from the high ultraviolet radiation that characterizes this medium, which can grant very striking ice.
Algae play a critical role in the primary production of the ecosystem. They convert carbon dioxide and inorganic matter into oxygen and organic matter, and are foods for small invertebrates such as krill. These, in turn, constitute the main food of fish of various species. As seen, algae mainly form the base of the trophic chain.
Vegetation and climate change
A recent study on the State and the trends of vegetation in the Arctic in relation to climate change and global warming published in Ambio(1)has shown that Tundra vegetation is very resilient Given the temperature changes recently caused during climate change, but not the rest of the plants included in this ecosystem.
In this other article we explain the characteristics of the tundra, its flora and fauna.
If you want to read more articles similar to Polar ecosystem: characteristics, fauna and florawe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.
- Bjorkman, AD, García Criado, M., Myers-Smith, IH et al. Status and Trends in Arctic Vegetation: Evidence from Experimental Warming and Long-Term Monitoring. Ambio (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/S13280-019-01161-6
