The Living TundraThis wide-ranging account of the life of the tundra provides a fascinating insight into the ways in which animals, plants and climate interact in an inhospitable environment. Although the tundra is not rich in species compared with habitats in the tropics or even in temperate regions, it is an area of great interest to ecologists, botanists and zoologists alike, as an excellent example of nature contending with extreme environmental stress. As a biogeographer and ecologist the author has used his firsthand experience of the Eurasian Sub-Arctic to present an overview of life on the tundra of the Soviet Northlands that has become a classic of ecological literature. The tradition of interdisciplinary studies is very strong among Soviet tundra scientists. This important book is a valuable guide to the life of the tundra and will interest all those interested in the conservation of its flora and fauna. |
Contents
5 | 33 |
6 | 65 |
Is there any general trend in the adaptation | 74 |
Economical principles of body surface | 87 |
7 | 101 |
Interrelationships between organisms | 119 |
Man and the tundra | 183 |
Common terms and phrases
able abundance active adaptation amount animals appearance arctic tundra areas associations basic become beetles belonging belt biotopes birds body called characteristic climate close common completely consume course cover depends developed distinguished distributed effect environment example extent fauna feeding flora flowers forest forest tundra formation genus grasses ground groups grow growth habitats heat hunting important inhabitants insects kind known lagopus landscape larvae latitudes leaves lemmings less lichens limited living locally mainly majority means moss natural necessary nesting northern occur organisms period plants play polar desert pollination possible present problems processes quantities radiation reach reindeer represented result river role roots season severe shrubs slopes snow soil southern tundra species spring steppe subarctic summer surface taiga Taymyr temperature territory thick tundra subzone tundra zone typical tundra usually various vegetation widely willow winter zonal