Adaptations of Plants to Cold Environments
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 2.4.3
How are Plants Adapted to Tundra Environments?
Plants in tundra environments need to survive extremely low temperatures and exposure to the wind (because there aren't many trees to provide shelter).
Dormancy
- Dormancy is a period of time when the plant does not grow. Pansies and coneflowers are examples of plants that go dormant.
- Going dormant helps plants survive winter in the tundra.
Small plants
- Plants are usually very small in the tundra (moss, lichen etc).
- This is expected because there are not many nutrients in the soil, but it also is one way to shelter from the wind.
- Plants' leaves are usually very small if plants have any leaves at all.
Shallow roots
- Deep roots are good for competing with other plants for lots of nutrients.
- However, there is a permafrost layer in polar and tundra regions. Therefore, plants cannot have long roots, so there is no point in having long roots.
- Moss is easy to rub off because its roots are not very deep relative to trees.
Bulbs for reproduction
- In warmer climates, plants may reproduce by spreading seeds.
- In the tundra or polar biome, the seeds are unlikely to survive.
- To reproduce, plants may effectively insert seeds underground using runners or bulbs. This helps protect and incubate the next generation of plants.
Test yourself on Adaptations of Plants to Cold Environments
How are plants adapted to tundra environments?
Name 2 plants that go dormant in the winter in the tundra biome.
Which of the following describes a typical tundra plant?