Gates of the Arctic
Organism Adaptations
Caribou
Caribou are members of the deer family. Their thick fur coats have hollow hairs. This helps to keep them warm. They move across the Arctic in large herds. Caribou eat moss, lichens and green plants. For the winter they go to the forests of the south where trees give them protection from the wind and the snow. In the spring the caribou leave the forests and go to the tundra where the calves are born.
Arctic Fox
The Arctic Fox is hard to see in the snow. It has a thick white coat of fur for the winter. In the summer the coat is brownish-grey. The Arctic fox eats a lot of lemmings. They also eat hares, birds' eggs and the chicks. If there is a lot of food, the female has eleven or more pups, but if there is not much food she may have only five or six pups.
Plants and Vegetation
Most plants in the tundra grow in clusters. This protects from the cold temperatures and winds. Also, some plants have fuzzy coverings on the stems and seed covers to help further protect from the wind. Some flowers have cup shaped petals so that it can get more energy and warmth from the sun. According to scientists, darker colors absorb more heat, which also pertains to some of the vegetation. The darker the color the more heat is absorbed.