What flora are found in the Arctic?

Approximately 1,700 species of plants live on the Arctic tundra, including flowering plants, dwarf shrubs, herbs, grasses, mosses, and lichens. The tundra is characterized by permafrost, a layer of soil and partially decomposed organic matter that is frozen year-round.

What flora and fauna exist in Antarctica?

Also in Antarctic wildlife

There are no trees or shrubs, and only two species of flowering plants are found: Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis).

What plants grow in the polar region?

Combinations of mosses, lichens, sedges, grasses, and dwarf woody shrubs dominate most Arctic tundra, and miniature flowering plants dominate the polar deserts.

What are the 3 polar regions?

The northern polar region, called the Arctic, encompasses the Arctic Ocean and a portion of some surrounding land masses. The southern polar region, called the Antarctic, contains the continent of Antarctica and areas of the surrounding Southern Ocean.

Are polar bears in Antarctica?

Polar bears live in the Arctic, but not Antarctica. Down south in Antarctica you’ll find penguins, seals, whales and all kinds of seabirds, but never polar bears. Even though the north and south polar regions both have lots of snow and ice, polar bears stick to the north.

How many polar regions are there?

two
There are two main polar regions in the world, which are the Arctic and the Antarctic. The Arctic Circle and Arctic Tundra are found at the North Pole, and it covers nearly 5 million square miles of the top of the Northern Hemisphere.

What is underneath the ice in Antarctica?

The lakes grow and shrink beneath the ice. Scientists have discovered two new lakes buried deep beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. These hidden gems of frigid water are part of a vast network of ever-changing lakes hidden beneath 1.2 to 2.5 miles (2 to 4 kilometers) of ice on the southernmost continent.

Do polar bears eat penguins?

Polar bears do not eat penguins, since penguins live in the southern hemisphere and polar bears live in the northern hemisphere. This program is supported by the National Science Foundation.

Can penguins live in Arctic?

Although there are no penguins in the Arctic today, there are many fascinating connections between the polar north and our beloved, tuxedoed sweethearts of the south.

Why do polar bears have white fur?

Polar bears have white fur so that they can camouflage into their environment. Their coat is so well camouflaged in Arctic environments that it can sometimes pass as a snow drift. Interestingly, the polar bear’s coat has no white pigment; in fact, a polar bear’s skin is black and its hairs are hollow.

Do polar bears eat walrus?

Adult male polar bears will sometimes hunt walruses, but the smaller females, especially when malnourished, lack the strength necessary to take down the much larger predator. … “Finding it is a healthy walrus, the answer is no” for the bear, said Aars.

Do polar bears eat sharks?

Do polar bears eat rabbits?

While polar bears are the reputed kings of Arctic predators, they can’t catch a rabbit. However, smaller, faster, more agile predators are a threat.

What eats arctic foxes?

Arctic foxes have predators: golden eagles, bald eagles, wolves, wolverines, polar bears, brown bears, and red foxes.

Do polar bears eat narwhals?

Carcasses. Polar bears use their sense of smell to detect a carcass from nearly 20 miles away. They will happily feed on the carcasses of beluga whales, grey whales, walruses, narwhals and bowhead whales when available.

Do polar bears eat arctic wolves?

Polar bears are the only animal predators of Arctic wolves. If a young wolf cub wanders out of the cave, it can be killed by a bear or another wolf.

What does Arctic foxes eat?

FEEDING: Arctic foxes are opportunistic feeders, eating practically any animal alive or deceased. They rely on populations of rodents, especially lemmings, voles, and other small mammals. They will also eat birds, insects, eggs, berries, reptiles, and amphibians.