Polar regions are freezing cold and predominantly covered in snow and ice. Because there is solid water almost everywhere, plants and animals that live in these regions often struggle to get sufficient water
Overview of Polar Habitats
On opposite sides of the world are the Polar Regions: Antarctica in the south (66 degrees south) and The Arctic in the north (66 degrees north). The Arctic includes Canada, United States, Greenland, Russia, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway. In both the Arctic and Antarctica on at least one day during summer the sun does not set and for at least one day during winter, the sun doesn’t rise.
Closer to the poles these periods of day and night increase, so at the poles themselves, the sun will not set below the horizon for six months, then after that six month period, the sun sets and leaves the pole in a cold and dark period lasting for six months. So the poles will have just one day and one night each year.
This is due to the angle of the Earth’s axis and as the Earth moves around the sun, one hemisphere faces the sun for six months and the other hemisphere is left in darkness for six months.
Summertime features longer and warmer days than winter because the hemisphere experiences more sunlight. Days are basically the same length all year at the equator but as one gets closer to the poles, summer days become longer and winter days become shorter.
Arctic Tundra
Tundras are characterized by severely cold climate and are virtually treeless. Temperatures average –10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), and there is little water, usually less than 25cm (10in), of precipitation per year. Plant life must adapt to a short growing season and often frozen soil. Antarctica is almost completely covered in snow, but The Arctic Circle spends summer ice-free and so experiences periods of high growth and breeding.
Even though the summer melts the ice and snow, the soil remains frozen aside from the top few centimeters. This soil is called permafrost and it prevents melted water from seeping away, often forming bogs and shallow pools that attract swarms billions of insects.
Mammals of the Polar Regions
On opposite sides of the world, the geography of The Arctic and the Antarctic are very different from each other. In the Antarctic lies the large continent of Antarctica, a cold and icy place that has few terrestrial animals. Aside from several species of penguin and birds, the Antarctic is home to the marine mammals seals and whales.
The Arctic is more hospitable to terrestrial animals. Mammals that live here include seals and whales in the Arctic Ocean and surrounding islands are home to reindeer, polar bears, muskox, snowshoe hares, lemmings, walruses, caribou and the arctic fox.
Mammals that live in here are well adapted to the harsh environment and can cope with significant seasonal transformations, however, due to climate change, scientist believe that the loss of sea ice will cause serious problems for some mammals. Because many mammals use the ice for breeding or to escape from predators, the loss of sea ice could change the balance of prey versus predator and then the larger predator mammals will need to search further and further for food.
Resource and further reading:
Hickman, Roberts, Larson & I’Anson, 2004, ‘The Biosphere and Animal Distribution’ in Integrated Principles of Zoology, 12th edition, ed. McGraw Hill, New York, chapter 37 and Arctic Mammals on Thin Ice.
Roberta Goli - Roberta has a Bachelor of Science Degree (Zoology), has worked with animals for over 10 years and enjoys writing short stories and flash ...
