A Question 4U!, Student curiosity |
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A Question 4U!, Student curiosity |
James McKenzie |
Jun 16 2005, 04:16 PM
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#1
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Unregistered |
[COLOR=orange] What importance does the vegetation of toolik lake have?
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Tom_Crumrine |
Jun 18 2005, 02:59 AM
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#2
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TREC Teacher Group: TREC Team Posts: 188 Joined: 27-April 05 Member No.: 9 |
Jim,
This is a really broad question. The tundra from a distance looks like it is just great but when you get up close there is tons of variation in the vegitation. One importance of the vegitation is that it absorbs carbon through the process of photosynthesis. This is important because that carbon gets trapped in the permafrost over time and the arctic acts as a sink, or a place to store carbon. Another importance of the vegetation is to organisms in the area. There are microscopic worms, insects, bacteria and many other little things. On a larger level there are caribou and voles and birds that are all dependent in some way on the vegetation of the tundra. Just like the ecosystem out your back door in NH the tundra is a very diverse and vibrant one with all kinds of participants. I have found in my work that looking at the tundra up close is pretty interesting because there are so many plants and mosses to find when you are down there. Hope this helps a little-Have a good summer. Tom |
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