Flora of the Arctic. Arctic desert - characteristic plants. Features of the flora, description, photo of the vegetation of the Arctic deserts

The Arctic desert zone is located in the Arctic Ocean basin. This is the northernmost of all existing natural zones of the planet. It is characterized by a pronounced arctic climate. The features of such a climate include severe winters and short, damp and cold summers. Winter temperatures reach -62 degrees at the cold month year - January. Such cold winters are the norm for areas located in high latitudes. The snow and ice mass does not melt even in summer and stays in the zone of the Arctic desert for almost whole year . In winter, there are long polar nights, depending on the geographical latitude: from 80 days in the southern part of the Arctic desert and up to six months in. Summer in these latitudes does not last long. Summer temperatures slightly exceed 0 degrees Celsius, although the sun does not hide behind the horizon line for almost half a year. Above these Arctic expanses in summer there is a so-called "polar day". The sun is rarely covered by clouds, which, due to the high humidity, almost continuously drop rain or snow onto the ground. "Polar nights" in the Arctic desert zone are accompanied by stunning beauty and spectacular auroras, optical phenomena in the atmosphere caused by electromagnetic radiation from the Sun.

From the north, the zone of the Arctic deserts adjoins the ice zone of the Arctic. This is the territory of the Arctic Ocean covered with ice with a few islands. In the south, the Arctic deserts border on the tundra zone of the Arctic. Actually, the Arctic deserts are insignificant patches of land that are freed from snow and ice for a short summer time. They are almost devoid of vegetation, and there are no familiar soils there. As a rule, there is soil only under the vegetation, and the rest of the space is covered with rubble and stone. The flora of the Arctic deserts, as well as the animal world, are extremely poor. The vegetation cover in the Arctic desert is patchy. In the flat parts of the Arctic desert, vegetation covers about half of its area. In mountainous regions, it occupies only 2-4% of the mountainous slopes. The number of representatives of the plant world in the Arctic deserts is only 340-350 species of higher plants. If we note the most common species, then these are: snow saxifrage, arctic buttercup, polar poppy, alpine foxtail and some types of sedges, forget-me-nots, as well as grains and alpine bluegrass. Stone placers in the Arctic desert are usually covered with islands of lichens, brown mosses and green mosses. Coastal bottom areas in some places are also covered with bottom lichens and bottom mosses. Very rarely the bottom of reservoirs is covered with algae growing there. The flora of the Arctic deserts is very monotonous. But even with such a small number of vegetation species growing there, it is positioned from south to north. In the south of the Arctic desert - the New Siberian Islands, the southern tip of Franz Josef Land, the north of Novaya Zemlya - the vegetation is much richer than the northern sections of the Arctic desert. There you can find liquid bushes of polar willow and saxifrage, as well as undersized dryad thickets pressed to the ground.
The vegetation cover of the Arctic deserts has negligible productivity. In terms of phytomass volume, it is very small, and is on a par with the classic deserts of the middle belt. What is noteworthy is that the volume of the above-ground part of plants far exceeds their underground indicators. This is due to the extreme thinness of the soils of the Arctic desert and their poverty of nutrients that promote plant growth. The extremely poor flora of the Arctic deserts has led to the fact that its fauna is also very few of its representatives. These include polar bears, arctic foxes, and reindeer. Of rodents - lemmings. In the north of the Arctic desert, there are not even lemmings, and the reindeer almost does not go there. But the poor fauna of the Arctic deserts is brightened up by sea birds nesting in colonies on the coastal rocks of the islands. New Earth and Franz Josef Land. There are seabird colonies on other islands as well. The scarcity of the flora of the Arctic deserts does not detract from their importance for the development of their underground riches. They are classified as promising in terms of deposits of oil and gas, polymetallic ores, gold and even diamonds. As the shortage of hydrocarbons and other strategic raw materials for the world economy grows, the Arctic desert zone will increasingly attract the attention of world politics and business as a saving pantry for the rapidly growing world economy...

The flora and fauna of the Arctic is very unique, due to the remoteness of the region from the continents and continents. There are more than 20,000 different species of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms on the territory of the Arctic desert and subarctic. And many of them play very important role in the formation of global biodiversity. It is here and only here that hundreds of rare representatives of flora and fauna are found. This is due to the unique climate of the upper latitudes and the absence of traces of human activity. In addition, some of the plant and animal species present here are at the stage of extinction and are protected by the relevant organizations. For this, separate reserves and national parks are being created. It is known that a quarter of all species of the salmon-like fish order, about 12% of lichen species and 6% of moss species are concentrated only in the Arctic region.

The modern Arctic is distinguished by an uneven distribution of species and a change in their number due to the change of natural zones. For example, if you move 700 kilometers north along the Taimyr Peninsula, the number of plant species will be reduced by four times.

If we consider the flora of the Arctic region, then it is represented by unique relict plants mixed with Arctic, relatively southern, American and Asian plants. Scientists believe that in the distant past, at the time of the mammoth and the woolly rhinoceros, most The polar regions were covered with steppes. That is why, in some southern regions of Chukotka and on the territory of Wrangel Island, there are still steppe areas with an incredibly rich floristic world. By the way, 40 kinds rare plants and animals can only be found on this island.

On the territory of the Arctic there are various cereals, sedges, polar poppies, low-growing shrubs, and the most anomalous part of the region is the Chaun Bay, where seaweed and relics of warm periods grow. Many representatives of the Arctic flora play an important role in the existence of animals and people. We eat arctic cloudberries, russula and even lichens. And many types of plants are incredibly valuable medicinal properties and they are used in modern medicine to combat various diseases. For centuries, the inhabitants of Iceland have used Centraria lichen to make bread, because. this organism is a standard of cleanliness of the environment and contains a record amount of vitamins, trace elements and other valuable substances.

It is worth remembering that average temperature air in the Arctic desert rarely rises above zero degrees Celsius, and in a short period of time, which is called summer, only a small part of the region thaws. In the relatively warm season, small “oases” are found in the Arctic, which are isolated places with scale mosses, lichens and some herbaceous plants. At the same time, in such an incredibly harsh and cold environment, you can also find flowering endemic plants, including alpine foxtail, arctic pike, buttercup, polar poppy and others.
In rare cases, some types of mushrooms and berries can be found here. Basically, about 350 species of arctic plants are represented in the Arctic.

But despite the typical poverty, the Arctic desert changes its character significantly if you move from the north to the southern borders of the region. For example, the northern part of Franz Josef Land, Severnaya Zemlya and the Taimyr Peninsula are a grass-moss desert, and in the south of Franz Josef Land there are depleted shrub-moss areas with low shrubs polar willow.

Due to the low temperatures of the summer season, poor flora and a large layer of permafrost, the soil-forming process is problematic. In summer, the thawed layer is 40 cm and by the beginning of autumn the earth is again subject to freezing. The presence of moisture during the thawing of permafrost layers and summer drying cause soil cracking. A significant part of the Arctic desert is covered with coarse clastic material, which is a variety of placers. The main arctic soil is considered to be fine-earth soil, which has a brown color due to the presence of microreliefs and vegetation. The total phytomass indices in the Arctic region rarely reach 5 t/ha.

True, such luxury does not last long - until the first serious frosts. The polar poppy refers to perennial plants with a frost-resistant rhizome, from which new stems grow during spring warming. After all, an annual plant cannot complete full cycle development in conditions of abnormally low temperatures and very cold summers.

The next common plant that is found in the Arctic desert is.

It differs in one ecological specificity - it grows only on turf and snow-covered soil. In the Arctic desert, such a plant can be found almost everywhere, but without extreme severity. The oblique rhizome of the saxifrage reaches 6 mm in thickness, has black color and planted with petioles. The species itself reaches 20 centimeters in length, and the flowering period falls in mid-June-July, depending on climatic features terrain.

- Another common representative of the Arctic flora, which refers to perennial plants with a small 20-centimeter stem and a gray-blue color during flowering.

It differs in spike-shaped inflorescence, and the flowering period falls on July. Young shoots of foxtail acquire a reddish color. Foxtail is considered a heat-loving plant, so it blooms only in the warmest season.

It is considered a prominent representative of the polar flora.

Belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and can be both annual and perennial, both aquatic and terrestrial plants. The species is distinguished by alternate, dissected or whole leaves, caustic juice, which can acquire poisonous properties, and single flowers. Often, flowers form a complex inflorescence, where there are 3-5 leaves. Some varieties of Buttercup are used for medicinal purposes.

Despite the remoteness from the mainland, the Arctic remains one of the most amazing and richest regions of our planet. And the presence of unique, extremely rare plant species is a vivid confirmation of this.

Arctic deserts (polar desert, ice desert) - a kind of desert with extremely sparse sparse vegetation among the snows and glaciers of the Arctic and Antarctic belts of the Earth. It is distributed over most of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, as well as on other islands of the Arctic Ocean, on the northern coast of Eurasia and on islands near Antarctica.

In the Arctic desert grow small isolated areas with mainly scale mosses and lichens and herbaceous vegetation. They look like a kind of oases among the polar snows and glaciers. In the conditions of the Arctic desert, there are some types of flowering plants: polar poppy, foxtail, buttercup, saxifrage, etc.

The natural community of the Arctic deserts is poor and not numerous. This is due to the harsh climate. Vegetation regenerates very slowly. The flora of the Arctic desert has a little more than 60 species of plants, which occupy about half of its area. The rest of the space falls on bare lifeless soil and is covered with rubble, fragments of stones with scale lichens. Soils are primitive, thin (1-5 cm), low-humus, with patchy (island) distribution mainly only under vegetation. Vegetation patches with open sods consist mainly of sedges, some grasses, lichens, and less mosses. Summer eternal ice sometimes dyed a pale green. It grows microscopic algae. The surface of the rocks is covered with lichens. And where there is more heat and less wind, you can see small flowers of starflower, forget-me-nots and saxifrage. One of the first blooms novosiversia icy. It is often called the arctic rose.

An important role in the plant life of the Arctic is played by the dryad or partridge grass, which in places forms a continuous cover on gravelly soils. A variety of polar poppies dominate in the northernmost part of the region.
Arctic lichens, the highest intensity of photosynthesis in them is observed at a temperature in the range from +5 to +10 C, at a temperature of -5 C they are able to fix 50% of the possible amount of carbon dioxide, but they can absorb CO2 at even lower temperatures. For example, alpine stereocaulon and elk cladonia absorb carbon dioxide at -24 C, snow tsetraria - at -20 C, other species - in the range from -5 to -16 C. This allows lichens to exist in the most severe, extreme habitats of the high Arctic and in the upper belts of tundra mountain systems.

adapt to low temperatures tundra plants are helped not only by the features of their physiology, but also by the structure. Many arctic plants form specific life forms - cushion-like, creeping and pressing against the soil surface, rosettes, and some others. The more severe the conditions, the higher the proportion of such plants. It is known that the temperature of the soil surface and the surface layer of air is significantly higher than at a height of 1.5-2 m (at which data are taken at weather stations), and therefore it is easier for a plant to survive near the soil surface. It is also important that the temperature of the organs inside dense cushions and tufts pressed to the soil, especially dark-colored ones (in the Arctic, by the way, many plants are characterized by an intense purple-purple color of leaves and stems, which they acquire due to the content of a special pigment in the cells - anthocyanin) , may exceed the ambient temperature by 10 C or more. So, according to observations in Northern Greenland, it was noted that at an air temperature of -12 C inside the saxifrage curtain, it was +3.5 C, and even +10 C in the cushions of moss. It is interesting that dark-colored plants begin to grow and develop under snow, in called "snow greenhouses", almost half a month earlier than other plants.

Creeping turfs and pillows are an important adaptation to harsh winter conditions. Thick "rugs" coupled, as a rule, with dead leaves, stipules, peduncles and shoots remaining for the winter, hold snow well within the curtain, which, firstly, protects flower and vegetative buds from low temperatures, and secondly, protects wintering parts of the plant from damage and excision by their needles-crystals of ice and snow carried by stormy winter winds.

Crowberry

Crowberry, or shiksha, like many other tundra plants, is one of the shrubs. But this is an unusual shrub: the branches of the plant are very similar to the branches of some coniferous tree, as they are covered with small leaves resembling needles. However, the crowberry is a flowering plant, and its leaves only look like needles in appearance. In fact, these are narrow, not completely closed tubes (the edges of the leaves are wrapped down and sometimes almost touch). Stomata are located on the inside of the tubules. This leaf structure helps to reduce evaporation. Long, strongly branched shoots of crows spread along the ground, their ends rise up.

Crowberry is an evergreen shrub with leaves that do not fall for the winter. However, in autumn, with the onset of cold weather, they darken, acquiring a purple-black color. Crowberry blooms early - as soon as the snow melts. Its flowers are small, inconspicuous, usually located singly in the axils of the leaves. Of these, at the end of summer, fruits are formed - black juicy berries with a bluish bloom. The skin covering the berry is black, and the juice inside is red. Crowberry berries, although edible, are unattractive: their taste is "fresh", they have neither acid nor sweetness. These berries are very watery, which is why this plant is sometimes called crowberry. In some areas Far North the local population uses crowberry berries for food, they are mixed with dried fish and seal fat and get a special meal called "mash".

Blueberry

Blueberry, or gonobobel - this is the name of one of the low tundra shrubs (its height rarely exceeds 0.5 m). hallmark of this plant - a bluish shade of foliage. In shape and size, the leaves are almost the same as those of lingonberries, but relatively thin, delicate. They appear in spring and fall off in autumn. Blueberries, unlike lingonberries, are deciduous shrubs. Blueberry flowers are inconspicuous, dull, whitish, sometimes with a pink tint. They are no larger than a pea, their rim is almost spherical, shaped like a very wide jug. The flowers are located on the branches so that the corolla opening is directed downwards. There are 4-5 small teeth along the edge of the hole. The denticles represent the ends of the petals (the rest of the petals are fused into one whole). Blueberry fruits are bluish, rounded berries with a bluish bloom. They resemble blueberries, but are larger than them. The pulp of the fruit is not the same as that of blueberries - it has a greenish color.

Blueberries are edible, slightly watery but sweet (more than 6% sugar). The local population collects them in in large numbers for kissels, fillings in pies and jams. Blueberries are one of the most common tundra plants. At the end of summer, the tundra turns blue in places from blueberries, there are a huge number of them.

Dryad

Dryad, or partridge grass, is a small, squat shrub. The branched stem of the plant is spread out on the surface of the earth, it is strong, lignified, completely covered with brownish remnants of petioles of dead leaves and seems shaggy. At its end are small leaves of a characteristic shape: they are very reminiscent of greatly reduced oak leaves. Their length is small - no more than a match. Dryad leaves are dense, leathery, wrinkled. They are dark green above and whitish below. These leaves remain on the plant in winter, remaining green. A dryad always attracts a person who first came to the tundra with the original, peculiar shape of its leaves. But the one who sees the plant during flowering will pay attention first of all, of course, to the flowers. They are very beautiful in the dryad: large, white, with petals widely spread in different directions (there are usually eight petals). Such flowers rise above the ground on rather long pedicels, reaching 10 cm.

The dryad belongs to the Rosaceae family and has a characteristic flower structure for this family (a divided corolla, many stamens and pistils). When we see a dryad in bloom, we are always surprised by the discrepancy between the size of the flower and the whole plant. The flower is larger than a five-kopek coin, and the plant itself is very small. A similar phenomenon can be observed in many other representatives of the tundra flora. The popular name of the dryad is partridge grass. This name is given because partridges willingly feed on the leaves of the plant. This food is especially important for birds in the cold season, when there is no fresh greenery. Dryad is one of the most common tundra plants. It is especially abundant in the northern part of the tundra zone. This plant is among the ornamental and is sometimes specially cultivated in gardens on alpine hills.

Polar poppy. Photo: Omar Runolfsson

polar poppies

The most common and most beautiful flower in the Arctic is the polar poppy. From early spring, overcoming gusts of cold wind, its pale yellow flowers stretch towards the sun. This is a very hardy plant, it can be found even in harsh rocky deserts, where only mosses and lichens grow. Often polar poppies form extensive carpets of bright golden-green colors. The vitality of the polar poppy is amazing, with the help of which it resists the cold winds that flutter the delicate petals and thin stalk.

Polar poppies have rather long peduncles, about 8 - 12 cm. However, in arctic tundra they often lie, slightly wriggling, on the surface of the soil, which is warmer than the air, and only the flowers themselves are slightly raised. The seemingly large size and brightness of their flowers are associated with the small size of tundra plants. By themselves, the flowers of arctic plants are not larger than forest ones, but in relation to the size of the stems and leaves are perceived as large. The habitat of the Polar Poppy covers the Arctic zone of the Northern Hemisphere - Norway, Sweden, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Alaska and the Arctic regions of Canada. On the territory of Russia, it is found on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, Vaygach Island, the Taimyr Peninsula, in the polar zone of the Urals, Yakutia and the Magadan Region.

Reindeer moss

Reindeer moss lichen, or reindeer moss, is one of our largest lichens, its height reaches 10-15 cm. thin winding "branches". And the trunk and branches towards the ends gradually become thinner and thinner. Their tips almost completely disappear - they are no thicker than a hair. If you put several of these plants side by side on black paper, you get a beautiful white lace. Yagel has a whitish color. It is due to the fact that the bulk of the lichen is made up of the thinnest colorless tubes - the hyphae of the fungus. But if we look at the cross section of the main "stem" of reindeer moss under a microscope, we will see not only fungal hyphae. Near the surface of the "stem" stands out a thin layer of the smallest emerald green balls - cells of microscopic algae.

Yagel, like other lichens, consists of fungal hyphae and algae cells. When wet, reindeer moss is soft and elastic. But after drying, it hardens and becomes very brittle, crumbles easily. The slightest touch is enough to break off pieces of lichen. These tiny fragments are easily carried by the wind and are able to give rise to new plants. It is with the help of such random fragments that the reindeer moss mainly breeds. Yagel, like other lichens, grows slowly. It increases in height by only a few millimeters per year, although its dimensions are quite large. Due to the slow growth of moss reindeer moss, the same tundra pasture cannot be used for several years in a row; one has to move to new areas all the time.

Plants

The flora is distinguished by a mixture of arctic and relatively southern (American and Asian) plants, relict species. In the continental regions on the southern slopes of Chukotka, there are steppe areas. Scientists have suggested that the entire Arctic was covered with steppes during the time of the mammoth and the woolly rhinoceros. The floristically richest regions of the Arctic are the coast of the Chukotka Peninsula and Wrangel Island, which is the northernmost UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The 40 species of plants and animals that inhabit the island are found nowhere else on earth.

The vegetation cover of the Arctic is represented by grasses, sedges, polar poppies, shrubs - willows, dwarf birches, lichens, liverworts, mosses (the famous reindeer moss is reindeer moss). The Chaun Bay off the coast of Chukotka, with its thickets of seaweed and rich fauna, which includes relics of the warm periods of past centuries, is considered to be an anomaly of biodiversity.

Arctic plants are the basis of animal and human life. Arctic cloudberries, russula, medicinal herbs and even lichens are eaten. In Iceland, flour has long been prepared and baked bread from Centraria lichen. It is a natural indicator of the cleanliness of the environment, leading in the content of vitamins, trace elements, polysaccharides and various lichen acids.

Vegetation in the Arctic grows only on the mainland and insular zones. Therefore, we can say that the main part of the vegetation of the Arctic is tundra plants.

Reindeer moss

Moss lichen, or reindeer moss. This is one of our largest lichens, its height reaches 10-15 cm. A separate reindeer moss plant resembles some kind of fancy tree in miniature - it has a thicker "trunk" rising from the ground, and thinner winding "branches". And the trunk and branches towards the ends gradually become thinner and thinner. Their tips almost completely disappear - they are no thicker than a hair. If you put several of these plants side by side on black paper, you get a beautiful white lace.

Yagel has a whitish color. It is due to the fact that the bulk of the lichen is made up of the thinnest colorless tubes - the hyphae of the fungus. But if we look at the cross section of the main "stem" of reindeer moss under a microscope, we will see not only fungal hyphae. Near the surface of the "stem" stands out a thin layer of the smallest emerald green balls - cells of microscopic algae. Yagel, like other lichens, consists of fungal hyphae and algae cells.

When wet, reindeer moss is soft and elastic. But after drying, it hardens and becomes very brittle, crumbles easily. The slightest touch is enough to break off pieces of lichen. These tiny fragments are easily carried by the wind and are able to give rise to new plants. It is with the help of such random fragments that the reindeer moss mainly breeds.

Yagel, like other lichens, grows slowly. It increases in height by only a few millimeters per year, although its dimensions are quite large. Due to the slow growth of moss reindeer moss, the same tundra pasture cannot be used for several years in a row; one has to move to new areas all the time. If deer in the tundra eat reindeer moss, it takes quite a long time (10-15 years) to restore the lichen cover.

Yagel is of great economic importance. It is known to serve as one of the most important fodder plants for deer in the tundra. It is interesting that deer unmistakably find it by smell even in winter under a layer of snow.

dwarf birch

The dwarf birch bears little resemblance to our usual, familiar birch, although both of these plants are close relatives ( different types of the same kind). The height of the dwarf birch is small - rarely more than half of human height. And it grows not as a tree, but as a branchy shrub. Its branches do not rise high, and often even spread over the surface of the earth. In a word, the birch is really dwarf. Sometimes it is so small that its creeping shoots are almost entirely hidden in the thickness of the moss-lichen carpet, and only leaves are visible on the surface. I must say that the leaves of a dwarf birch are not at all the same as those of an ordinary birch, their shape is rounded, and the width is often greater than the length. And they are relatively small in size - like small copper coins. Small semicircular protrusions go one after another along the edge of the leaf (this edge of the leaf is called crenate in botany). The leaves are dark green above, glossy, and paler below, light green. In autumn, the leaves are beautifully painted - they turn bright red. Thickets of dwarf birch at this time of the year are unusually colorful, they always surprise with their bright crimson.

Dwarf birch is one of the most common tundra plants. It can be found in almost the entire tundra zone. It is especially abundant in the southern part of the tundra, where it often forms thickets. In the summer, deer feed on its leaves. And the local population collects larger specimens of the plant for fuel.

forest geranium

Forest geranium is a herbaceous perennial with a height of 30-60cm. The rhizome of the plant is vertical, thickened upwards. Stem erect, branching at the top, covered with glandular-hairy pubescence. The leaves are seven-parted, with rhombic, incised-toothed lobes. The flowers are usually purple, but sometimes purple or pinkish, rarely white with purple streaks - albino. The plant blooms in May-June. The fruit is dry, breaks up into 5 one-seeded seeds.

Geranium is used as a remedy only in folk medicine. Collect the aerial part of the plant during flowering. Dry under awnings in the open air; store in well ventilated areas.

Arctic bluegrass

One of the most common tundra grasses, it is not found only in heavily watered swamp areas. It grows throughout the territory to the north up to Cape Chelyuskin and the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago. However, it is scarce almost everywhere, except for floodplain meadows and zoogenic meadows.

Perennial herbaceous grassroots cereal plants with thin creeping rhizomes, vegetative shoots arcuately curved. Stems 10-25(40) cm tall, smooth. Leaves are soft, 1-2(3) mm wide, flat or folded lengthwise. The tongues are 1-1.5 mm long. Panicles 3-10 cm long, pyramidal, spreading, with thin smooth branches. Spikelets 4-5 mm long, often darkly colored. The lower lemmas along the veins and usually between them are pubescent with soft hairs. The tuft of long sinuous hairs on the callus is poorly developed. Anthers 1.4-2.5 mm long. Optional crossover. Vivipair forms are rare. The flowering and fruiting period is June-August.

Kelp

Laminaria (seaweed) is a genus from the class of brown seaweeds.

Many types of kelp are eaten.

Since time immemorial, it has been used in the diet of those people who live near the sea. It was also used as a fertilizer, since kelp contains a very large set of macro- and microelements. Laminaria is rich in iodine, which is contained in an organic form, which affects its absorption by the human body. Eating kelp is recommended for the prevention of endemic goiter. In cosmetology, it is used as a wrapping agent.

Japanese kelp is common in the southern regions of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. In the White and Kara Seas, sugary and palmately dissected kelp live, which are used for medical purposes and for food.

Laminaria grow, forming dense thickets in places with a constant flow, forming a "kelp belt" at a certain depth along the coast. Large underwater "algal forests" are usually formed at a depth of 4-10 m. On rocky ground, kelp in some areas are found up to a depth of 35 m.

Lichen Centraria

Cetraria Icelandic or Icelandic moss is a perennial foliose lichen, the bushes are erect, rarely prostrate, they stand from almost compact vertical lobes. The lobes are irregularly ribbon-shaped, leathery-cartilaginous, narrow, flat, up to 10 cm high and 0.3-5.0 cm wide, with short dark greenish-brown cilia or with various shades Brown color, depending on the light, at the base with reddish spots, dull or shiny on the underside, sometimes lighter or the same color on both sides. The underside is abundantly covered with white spots (pseudocyfelames) various shapes. The edges of the blades are somewhat wrapped up. Cilia at the base are large (sometimes they are completely absent), drying out, they become dark brown.

This moss is widely distributed in Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Australia.

Plants of the Arctic deserts of Russia

This is a typical representative of pine forests, open barren spaces. Cetraria is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere to arctic belt. Icelandic moss grows in the tundra, dry pine forests of the northern part of the forest zone, in all high mountains (alpine moss-lichen tundra), rising to a height of 1500 m above sea level and higher. Icelandic moss is widespread in stony and grassy areas, in peat bogs, high mountain glades, in mountain forests, sometimes on the bark of old stumps. It is found in Northern and Central Europe, in the tundra and forest zone of Siberia, in Ukraine - in the Carpathians. In Europe, in addition to the Carpathians, it grows in the Alps, the Balkans and the Pyrenees. It grows on the soil itself, less often on rotten bark and on old stumps. In the northern part of Russia, cetraria is more widespread in the European than in the Asian part. It also grows in the mountains of the Caucasus, Altai, Sayan and the Far East.

The first information about the use of Icelandic cetraria as a medicinal raw material dates back to the distant past. The first indications of the use of lichens in medicine were known in Egypt as early as 2000 BC. Since the Middle Ages, Icelandic moss has been widely used in folk medicine in the countries of Northern Europe - Iceland, Norway, Sweden - as an enveloping remedy for colds and bronchitis. Means of cetraria in the form of infusions or decoctions were also used by the peoples of the Scandinavian countries as bitterness to stimulate appetite. They treated dysentery, dyspepsia, chronic constipation and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Icelandic moss was also known as an emollient, nourishing and general tonic. Cetraria thallus was also widely used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, whooping cough, bronchitis, laryngitis, bronchial asthma and other bronchopulmonary diseases. In addition, cetraria preparations were used for malignant tumors and bleeding.

Plants of the Arctic

One of the most amazing and least studied physical and geographical regions of our planet is the Arctic. Translated from Greek, “Arctic” means a bear, which is associated with its placement under the constellation Ursa Major. The flora and fauna of the Arctic is very unique, due to the remoteness of the region from the continents and continents. There are more than 20,000 different species of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms on the territory of the Arctic desert and subarctic. And many of them play a very important role in shaping global biodiversity. It is here and only here that hundreds of rare representatives of flora and fauna are found. This is due to the unique climate of the upper latitudes and the absence of traces of human activity. In addition, some of the plant and animal species present here are at the stage of extinction and are protected by the relevant organizations. For this, separate reserves and national parks are being created. It is known that a quarter of all species of the salmon-like fish order, about 12% of lichen species and 6% of moss species are concentrated only in the Arctic region.

If we consider the flora of the Arctic region, then it is represented by unique relict plants mixed with Arctic, relatively southern, American and Asian plants.

WORLD OF PLANTS. Plants of the Arctic

Scientists believe that in the distant past, during the time of the mammoth and the woolly rhinoceros, most of the Arctic was covered by steppes. That is why, in some southern regions of Chukotka and on the territory of Wrangel Island, there are still steppe areas with an incredibly rich floristic world. By the way, 40 species of rare plants and animals can be found only on this island.

On the territory of the Arctic there are various cereals, sedges, polar poppies, low-growing shrubs, and the most anomalous part of the region is the Chaun Bay, where seaweed and relics of warm periods grow. Many representatives of the Arctic flora play an important role in the existence of animals and people. We eat arctic cloudberries, russula and even lichens. And many types of plants have incredibly valuable medicinal properties and are used in modern medicine to combat various diseases. For centuries, the inhabitants of Iceland have used Centraria lichen to make bread, because. this organism is a standard of cleanliness of the environment and contains a record amount of vitamins, trace elements and other valuable substances.

It is worth remembering that the average air temperature in the Arctic desert rarely rises above zero degrees Celsius, and in a short period of time, which is called summer, only a small part of the region thaws. In the relatively warm season, small “oases” are found in the Arctic, which are isolated places with scale mosses, lichens and some herbaceous plants. At the same time, in such an incredibly harsh and cold environment, you can also find flowering endemic plants, including alpine foxtail, arctic pike, buttercup, polar poppy and others.
In rare cases, some types of mushrooms and berries can be found here. Basically, about 350 species of arctic plants are represented in the Arctic.

Due to abnormally low temperatures (down to +60 degrees Celsius in winter and up to +3 degrees Celsius in summer), only a few individual plant species survive in the northernmost part of our planet. These include the blooming polar poppy, which covers the hills of the Arctic desert, turning them into a colorful yellow-orange carpet. True, such luxury does not last long - until the first serious frosts. polar poppy refers to perennial plants with a frost-resistant rhizome, from which new stems grow during spring warming. After all, an annual plant will not be able to complete the full cycle of development in conditions of abnormally low temperatures and very cold summers.

The next common plant that is found in the Arctic desert is Snow saxifrage. It differs in one ecological specificity - it grows only on turf and snow-covered soil. In the Arctic desert, such a plant can be found almost everywhere, but without extreme severity. The oblique rhizome of the saxifrage reaches 6 mm in thickness, has a black color and is planted with petioles. The species itself reaches 20 centimeters in length, and the flowering period falls in mid-June-July, depending on the climatic features of the area.

Alpine foxtail- Another common representative of the Arctic flora, which refers to perennial plants with a small 20-centimeter stem and a gray-blue color during flowering. It differs in spike-shaped inflorescence, and the flowering period falls on July. Young shoots of foxtail acquire a reddish color. Foxtail is considered a heat-loving plant, so it blooms only in the warmest season.

A prominent representative of the polar flora is considered buttercup arctic. Belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and can be both annual and perennial, both aquatic and terrestrial plants. The species is distinguished by alternate, dissected or whole leaves, caustic juice, which can acquire poisonous properties, and single flowers. Often, flowers form a complex inflorescence, where there are 3-5 leaves. Some varieties of Buttercup are used for medicinal purposes.

See also: Wolverine. Facts and Adaptations Plants of the Arctic Animals of the Arctic

polar belt

polar belt. Its area without continental ice about 0.6 billion hectares. In the northern hemisphere, two rather vast regions stand out: Eurasian and North American. Each of them has arctic and subarctic soil zones.

The Arctic zone is located closer to the pole and is divided into two subzones: the Arctic deserts and the Arctic itself. The soil cover of the Arctic deserts is represented by primitive Arctic desert soils, as well as saline soils that develop at low precipitation and when salts freeze to the surface under conditions of extreme hypothermia (Antarctica, the north of Greenland, the sea coasts of the Arctic).

For sub arctic zone characteristic tundra soils. It is divided into three subzones: northern or arctic, typical and southern tundra. The main soil processes in the tundra occur under conditions of increased moisture and stagnant water regime due to low evaporation. Gley processes are confined to the upper part of the soil layer. The northern tundra is dominated by arctotundra soils, while the rest of the subarctic zone- tundra-gley.

The circumpolar position of the Arctic zone determines its severe climatic conditions: short cold summer, long harsh winter, the presence of permafrost almost everywhere. The zone is represented on the islands and the extreme coast of Asia and North America. An extremely important role in such conditions is played by currents and air masses that bring heat and moisture. A cold transarctic current passes from Chukotka to the west. Along the North American shelf, the same current flows eastward. Along Iceland, the warm North Atlantic Current emerges to the north. In the area where these two powerful currents meet, cyclones are born that regulate the climate of the Arctic. On Svalbard precipitation falls up to 400 mm per year, on Franz Josef Land - 200-300, Severnaya Zemlya 100-200 mm, that is, the severity of the climate increases to the east. In the south of Greenland, up to 1000 mm of precipitation, in the north - 25 mm. In the northeast of Canada and in Greenland, the January temperature reaches -40 ° C, in Svalbard - only -12 ° C. The movement of heat and air masses affects the nature of vegetation. The degree of coverage of the territory, biomass, productivity depend on moisture content. Evaporation in the conditions of the Arctic zone is 100-200 mm, therefore, at 300-400 mm of precipitation, there may even be an excess of moisture, and at less than 100 mm - a lack. The vegetation of the tundra is represented mainly by mosses and lichens, there is a dwarf willow, saxifrage, cassiopeia, dryads, and individual cereals. The vegetation of the polar deserts is dominated by lichens. The phytomass of the tundra is 3-7 t/ha, the Arctic desert is 0.1-0.2 t/ha, the annual production is 1-1.5 t/ha and 10-15 kg/ha, respectively. The vegetation biomass in depressions is several times higher due to additional moisture.

Soil-forming rocks are diverse: loose glacial clastic deposits, sandy-argillaceous marine terraces, coarse clastic products of cryogenic destruction of dense rocks, eluvial-deluvial deposits in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

The relief is dominated by glacial abrasion and accumulative forms (Eurasia) and denudation surfaces (America). Upland areas of low marine terraces are most favorable for the formation of arctic soils. The thickness of the soil profile is determined by the depth of thawing of the soil and ground strata, rarely more than 0.3 m. Profile differentiation is weak due to cryogenic processes. Only the vegetative-peaty horizon Ao is well expressed, and thinner A1 is worse. In areas of normal and excessive moisture, brown arctic-tundra soils are formed. Ao 0-3 cm, thin A13 6 cm, V / C 6-13 cm, C - up to 30-40 cm, to permafrost. In these soils, there is always high humidity, moderate acidity (pH 5.5-6.6), 2.5-3.0% humus. The increase in climate humidity is accompanied by an increase in phytomass in upland habitats, and it enhances the decomposition of organic residues, so the pH drops to 5 and below.

An important geochemical factor in Arctic soil formation is the carbonate composition of rocks that actively migrate with the soil solution and increase pH to 7 and above.

Arctic desert plants

There are many such arctic rendjins in the Canadian archipelago.

With excessive moisture, peat-frozen soils are formed, confined to depressions. In summer, these are swamps with bumps, in the middle of which there is an ice stock. At (0-5 cm) is replaced by A2t (5-15 cm) and B/C (up to 40 cm).

Limited gelation possible. Peat horizons in the Arctic are limited by hydromorphic landscapes.

In the arid regions of the Arctic zone, the soils are alkaline (7-8), there is little humus (1% or less). They are usually called polar desert. The landscapes of the Arctic deserts are characterized by salt accumulation, sometimes salt marshes of marine origin.

The soils of the Arctic are extremely susceptible to impacts on them, they are poorly restored, which is a certain environmental problem.

Days and nights in the Arctic can last for months, and the sky at night is illuminated by the northern lights. Blocks of ice float in its oceans, and people move from place to place on dog sleds and build quite comfortable dwellings out of snow. The animals and plants of the Arctic are so unique that it is impossible not to talk about them.

What is the Arctic?

The name "Arctic" goes back to the ancient Greek arktos, which in translation into Russian sounds like "bear". It is worth noting that this has nothing to do with polar bears. The Arctic, whose animals and vegetation are the subject of this article, is a single physical and geographical region of the globe, directly adjacent to the North Pole. The Arctic is one of the geographical poles of our planet and is the most inaccessible territory of the Earth, completely covered with ice.

Animal world of the Arctic: who lives here?

The Arctic is home to a number of unique and rare animals. Musk oxen, bighorn sheep, wild reindeer, arctic hare, snowy owls, terns and, of course, the kings of the North - polar bears trample the ice here. It is impossible not to mention the eternal companions of polar bears - arctic foxes, whose fur is very valuable. Arctic foxes also have direct competitors - wolves that inhabit an amazing place called the Arctic.

Animals in this region are not limited to land representatives. For example, the marine inhabitants inhabiting the eternal realm of ice include walruses, seals, fish and several species of cetaceans: killer whales, beluga whales, narwhals and the notorious bowhead whales.

European predators also live in the Arctic - wolverines, ermines, which have adapted to such an extreme life. True, in this region they remained in the minority, but this does not prevent them from hunting. Among the rodents that have adapted to the difficult conditions of existence, mouse-like lemmings and long-tailed ground squirrels can be noted.

What is the most famous animal of the Arctic?

The polar bear is not only a well-known inhabitant of the North Pole, but also its universally recognized symbol! These bears are real travelers. At the same time, they do not so much make long transitions on the Arctic coast as they enjoy swimming on drifting ice floes.

Polar bears are made to live in the ice, they are not afraid of the cold and ice water. Moreover, from time to time they plunge into this water in order to swim from one ice floe to another. Dense and thick coat perfectly protects these predators from frost, and wide shaggy and massive paws with sharp claws allow them to move boldly not only on snow, but also on ice.

seals

Another famous animal of the Arctic is the seal. These mammals are distributed throughout the polar region, occurring in all the Arctic seas adjacent to the Arctic Ocean. They settled coastal waters Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and also settled in the Baltic and North Seas. On land, these pinnipeds are helpless and clumsy, but in the water they are real acrobats!

Seals swim dexterously and dodgy, no worse than fish, which, by the way, they hunt. What else is left for them to do? After all, what do the animals of the Arctic eat in such harsh conditions? Of course, sea shellfish, crabs and fish. They just don't get anything else. Even if predatory polar bears make their living by fishing, what can we say about seals.

It is worth noting that seals prefer to frolic in the coastal cold waters without swimming to the depths. Often, like polar bears, they make long journeys while on drifting ice floes. AT cold water seals are not cold at all: they have waterproof fur and a thick layer of subcutaneous fat.

Whales of the Arctic

Many species of whales can be found in the seas of the Arctic Ocean, but only three of them can be called true northerners: they all year round do not leave the polar region, the Arctic is not terrible for them. Animals of the North in their endurance and resistance to cold simply cannot be compared with these giants! So, the “devoted” inhabitants of the Arctic include the polar or bowhead whale, as well as the narwhal and the beluga whale.

All three species differ from their other relatives in the absence of a dorsal fin characteristic of cetaceans. Scientists believe that the dorsal fin in these animals “dropped off” in the process of evolution is not accidental: Arctic whales often have to break through the ice with their backs in order to float to the surface and take a breath of fresh air. If such a fin were preserved, they would simply cripple themselves.

Flora of the Arctic

If we figured out which animals live in the Arctic, then the situation with the plant world is the most deplorable. What plants can generally grow in regions covered with impenetrable ice all year round? Unfortunately, very few... For example, grasses, shrubs, cereals and, of course, mosses with lichens grow in the Arctic.

As you know, in summer the air temperature here is quite low, which causes a poor diversity of plant species. The climate also affects the size of the representatives of the flora. This is partly due to the fact that there are no trees at all in the Arctic. AT warm regions shrubs grow that can reach a height of 2 meters, but no more. Mosses, sedges and lichens form a kind of soft bedding.

Speaking about the peculiar flora of the North Pole, one cannot fail to note the so-called Arctic deserts. These are the northernmost natural zones, almost completely devoid of any vegetation. Only occasionally in these deserts can you find the polar poppy, and nothing more! In general, the fauna of the Arctic is much richer and more diverse than the flora.

Endangered

Since the Arctic is the northern polar region of the globe, climate change within this region poses a serious threat to some representatives of the local fauna. Many animals living in the Arctic, in particular, polar bears, are just the same at risk. The fact is that when the area is reduced sea ice these animals are forced to move to the coasts, but there their food base is much less than in the open Arctic oceans.

Scientists involved in the study of seasonal changes in the Arctic have calculated that if the duration of the summer season here begins to grow and increases from 120 to 180 days, then the mortality rate among adult male polar bears will increase from 3-7% to 30-49%. The probability of meeting between females and males during their breeding season also depends on the presence of drifting ice.

Scientists say that the effect of males searching for females will directly depend on the dispersal of the polar bear population on the ice and on the fragmentation of the ice itself. Since polar bears regulate the number of fish, walruses and seals, with their disappearance, the rest of the animal world of the Arctic may be incorrectly fragmented, disrupting the natural balance and structure of the food chain.

Red Book: Problems and Solutions

Many species of animals living in the Arctic are listed in the Red Book as endangered species. For example, musk oxen, Atlantic and Laptev walruses, as well as the narwhal whale are on the verge of extinction. Currently on the brink of extinction White seagull- a rare arctic bird species nesting on the islands of the Kara Sea.

Animals of the Arctic in the Red Book is a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately. One of these solutions are nature reserves. Currently, the largest reserve for rare species of animals and plants inhabiting the territory of the North Pole is the Great Arctic Reserve.

It was created back in 1993 with the aim of researching and preserving all possible biocomplexes of Taimyr Island and its immediate territories. Its second name is the reserve "Arktika". Animals living in this reserve are represented by 18 species of mammals, 124 species of birds and 29 species of fish.

When you hear the word "desert", what immediately comes to mind? For most people, the desert evokes images of endless sandy expanses, high temperatures, and scrub vegetation. To some extent, this representation is accurate. Many of the world's deserts are characterized by large amounts of sand and high temperatures (at least during daylight hours).

However, there are Arctic deserts that are fundamentally different from the rest of the deserts. There is no sand here, and temperatures are often far from hot, but rather sub-zero.

If you know anything about the Arctic, you are probably wondering who came up with the idea to call this region a desert. After all, the Arctic has the Arctic Ocean. However, arctic temperatures are so low that the ocean is almost always covered in ice. Severe frost also means that the air is unable to retain moisture. Thus, the air is dry, as in a classic desert.

Another weighty argument is the insignificant amount of precipitation in the form of rain or snow. In fact, the Arctic receives about the same amount of rainfall as the Sahara. All of the above factors have led to the emergence of the concept of "arctic or cold desert".

Natural conditions of the Arctic desert zone

To determine the natural conditions of the Arctic desert, below is a brief description and table of the main factors (geographical location, topography, soil, climate, natural resources, flora and fauna) that affect the life of people in this natural area.

Geographical position

Arctic desert on the map of the main natural areas of the world

Legend: - Antarctic desert.

The natural zone of the Arctic desert is located above 75 ° north latitude and is adjacent to the North Pole of the Earth. It covers a total area of more than 100 thousand km². The Arctic Desert covers Greenland, the North Pole and several islands, many of which are inhabited by humans and animals.

Relief

The relief of the Arctic desert consists of various physical features: mountains, glaciers and flat areas.

The mountains: arctic desert contains mountainous areas where the climate is cold and dry. In appearance, some of the region's mountains resemble mountains in Central America.

Glaciers: due to extremely low temperatures, the arctic desert is replete with numerous glaciers different forms and sizes.

Flat areas: make up the bulk of the region's territory and have a distinct patterned texture, which is the result of cycles of melting and freezing water.

If you've watched the TV series Game of Thrones, then the lands beyond the Wall give you a general idea of what the Arctic wilderness looks like. These scenes were filmed in Iceland, which is not officially part of the Arctic desert, but has a superficial resemblance to it.

Soils

In the main part of the territories of the natural zone of the Arctic desert, the soils remain frozen for most of the year. The permafrost reaches 600-1000 m deep and makes it difficult to drain water. In summer, the surface of the Arctic desert is covered with lakes from the melt water of the upper soil layer. Crushed stone and rocks, due to the movement of glaciers, are scattered throughout the natural zone.

The soil horizon of the Arctic deserts is very thin, poor in nutrients, and also includes a lot of sand. In warmer areas, there are soil types that contain little organic matter and are capable of supporting the growth of small shrubs, algae, fungi, and mosses. One such soil type is brown soils.

Climate

The climate of the natural zone of the Arctic desert is characterized by long, very cold winters and short cool summer. During the cold months (typically December to January), temperatures can drop as low as -50°C. During the warmer months (typically July), temperatures can rise to +10°C. However, over many months, average temperatures range from -20° to 0°C.

The arctic desert receives very little rainfall. The average annual rainfall is below 250 mm. Precipitation, as a rule, falls in the form of snow and light drizzle, more often in the warm season.

During the summer months, the sun does not set at all in the Arctic desert. In fact, for 60 days, the sun is above the horizon around the clock.

Animals and plants

In total, about 700 plant species and about 120 animal species are found in the natural zone of the Arctic deserts. Flora and fauna have adapted to survive and even thrive in such extreme conditions. Plants were able to adapt to nutrient-poor soils, low ambient temperatures and low rainfall. , as a rule, have a thick layer of fat and thick wool to protect from the cold. They breed during the short summer and often hibernate or migrate during the winter. The birds usually fly south during the cold winter months.

Only about 5% of the territories of the natural zone of the Arctic desert has vegetation cover. Although this is not surprising, given the status of the desert. Most plant life consists of the following plants: lichens, mosses and algae, which can survive in the extreme conditions of the Arctic.

Every year (especially in the warm season), some types of low (from 5 to 100 cm) shrub plants bloom. They typically include sedges, liverworts, herbs and different kinds colors.

Animal life in the Arctic desert is very diverse. There are numerous mammals, birds, fish and insects. All these animals are adapted to extremely low temperatures. Here are some examples of animals from the natural zone of the Arctic deserts:

Mammals: arctic foxes, polar bears, wolves, squirrels, hares, arctic voles, lemmings, reindeer, seals, walruses and whales.

Birds: crows, falcons, loons, sandpipers, snipes, terns and various types of gulls. Most of these birds are migratory (i.e. spend only part of their life cycle in the arctic desert).

Fishes: trout, salmon, flounder and cod.

Insects:

Natural resources

The Arctic includes significant reserves (oil, gas, minerals, fresh water and commercial species fish). also in last years tourist interest in this region has increased significantly, which also provides additional economic benefits.

The pristine and vast deserts of the Arctic play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity due to the growing human presence, as well as the fragmentation of vital habitats. The Arctic deserts are particularly susceptible to land cover depletion and habitat disturbance for the region's rare animals. The Arctic also contains 20% of the world's fresh water.

Table of the natural zone of the Arctic deserts

Geographical position

Relief and soil

Climate

Flora and fauna

Natural resources

Arctic regions located above 75° north latitude and receiving low rainfall (less than 250 mm per year).

The relief is mostly flat, but sometimes there are mountainous areas.

Soils are very poor in organic nutrients and remain frozen for most of the year.

The climate is dry and cold. Average temperatures range from 0° to -20° C. In winter, the air temperature can drop below -50° C, and in summer it can rise to +10° C.

Animals

mammals: polar foxes, polar bears, wolves, reindeer, hares, squirrels, voles, lemmings, walruses, seals and whales;

birds: crows, falcons, loons, sandpipers, snipes, terns and gulls;

fish: trout, salmon, flounder and cod;

insects: grasshoppers, arctic bumblebees, mosquitoes, moths, midges and flies.

Plants

shrubs, grasses, lichens, mosses and algae.

oil, gas, minerals, fresh water, commercial fish species.

Peoples and cultures

The most numerous inhabitants of the Arctic deserts are the Inuit. If the word "Inuit" is not clear to you, then most likely you have heard of the Eskimos.

The Inuit have adapted their lives to the difficult conditions of the Arctic wilderness. As a rule, there are practically no building materials in the Arctic. The Eskimos build snow huts called igloos. In the summer, when the Igloo is melted, they live in tents made from animal skins and bones.

Considering extreme conditions desert, the Inuit do not grow grains and vegetables. They eat mainly meat and fish. Thus, their main food sources are fishing, as well as hunting for seals, walruses and whales.

For transportation, the Inuit usually use dog sleds. Sleighs are made of skins and bones. They are pulled by strong, hardy, sledding breeds of dogs (huskies, malmutes, samoyeds). When moving through the water, they use kayaks or umiaks. Kayaks are small boats suitable for carrying one or two people. Umiaks are large enough to carry several people, dogs, and supplies.

Eskimo communities are in various parts arctic desert and . In Greenland, they are known as Iñupiat or Yup'ik. In Russia they are called Eskimos. Regardless of the name or geographical location, the Inuit speak the same language Inuktitut. They also have similar cultural traditions and way of life.

Significance for a person

In recent years, the Arctic wilderness has experienced an increase in tourism. Visitors to the cold desert come here for the unique ecosystem and mesmerizing snowy landscapes. Lakes, rivers, streams and mountains provide additional leisure activities for tourists from all over the world. Some recreational activities include sea cruises, boating, sport fishing, mountain climbing, hunting trips, white water rafting, hiking, dog sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, and more. The non-setting sun during the Arctic summer is another reason for the interest of tourists who visit the Arctic wilderness for this surreal phenomenon. Visitors also experience Inuit culture and life by visiting their settlements. The Arctic Desert, being the planet's polar region, plays a key role in regulating the Earth's climate.

Environmental threats

The population of people in the natural zone of the Arctic desert and adjacent areas is quite low. The most pronounced threat comes from exploration and extraction of mineral deposits. Global warming also has negative impact on the Arctic desert environment, upsetting the delicate balance of this ecosystem. As the planet's temperature rises, it heats up and melts, releasing carbon from the soil into the atmosphere, which accelerates the processes of climate change. Because of global warming melting polar ice, which contributes to sea level rise and increases the threat of flooding of the planet's coastal regions. Melting ice caps also threaten polar bears. Ice is necessary for them to hunt, and the melting of ice reduces and divides into fragments their hunting grounds. In addition, orphaned bear cubs have even more low rates survival, as they are left to fend for themselves.

Protection of the Arctic deserts

To protect the natural zone of the Arctic deserts, it is necessary to provide assistance, cooperation, coordination and interaction between states with the participation of communities of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection of the region.

The main goals of Arctic desert conservation include:

Preservation of the rich biodiversity of the region;
Sustainable use of renewable natural resources;
Reduce pollution and wasteful consumption.

To achieve these goals, it is necessary to focus international attention on the following problematic aspects:

Marine environment;
fresh water;
biodiversity;
Changing of the climate;
Pollution;
Oil and gas.

Only the political will and interaction of states can give a positive result in the struggle for the conservation of both the natural zone of the Arctic desert and the nature of the world as a whole.