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1st 2nd 3rd DESCRIBTION
E T POLAR TUNDRA

F ETERNAL WINTER (ICE CAP)

ANIMAL ADAPTATION

Polar reagon animals are exposed to some of
the coldest environments on earth. Animals
survive in these harsh conditions by reducing
the percentage of body heat that is lost to
the environment. This can be by physical
The outer layer, the fur, consists of guard hair and means (generally evolved over many
shorter dense underfur. This fur is slightly translucent, generations) or patterns of behaviour.
so the heat of the sun can penetrate to the second
layer, namely the skin. This skin is black, which absorbs the For example the polar bear can survive
heat of the sun. The third layer is blubber and functions extremely low temperatures thanks to its
as insulation. efficient fur and skin. It consists of three
layers.

PLANT ADAPTATION

adaptations in polar reagon help plants, algae,
fungi, and lichens survive in both the Arctic
and Antarctic. First, the size of plants and
their structures make survival possible. Small
plants and shallow root systems compensate
Plants have also adapted to the long winters and short, intense polar summers. Many Arctic species can for the thin layer of soil, and small leaves
grow under a layer of snow, and virtually all polar plants are able to photosynthesize in extremely cold minimize the amount of water lost through
temperatures. During the short polar summer, plants use the long hours of sunlight to quickly develop the leaf surface.
Plants also grow close to the ground and to
and produce flowers and seeds. Flowers of some plants are cup-shaped and direct the sun’s rays each other, a strategy that helps to resist
toward the center of the flower. Dark-colored plants absorb more of the sun’s energy. the effects of cold weather and reduce
In addition, many species are perennials, growing and blooming during the summer, dying back in the damage caused by wind-blown snow and ice
winter, and returning the following spring from their root-stock. This allows the plants to direct less particles. Fuzzy coverings on stems, leaves,
energy into seed production. Some species do not produce seeds at all, reproducing asexually through and buds and woolly seed covers provide
root growth. additional protection from the wind.

POLAR ANIMAL & PLANT ADAPTATION
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