Group 4
Animal Life:
Many animals (such as foxes, hares, wolves, and polar bears) and birds (such as snowy owls and terns) grow white outer fur or white feathers to help camouflage them on the snow-covered winter landscape. Wolves and foxes share many traits. Both live in groups (either packs or kits), and have an important part to play in the ecosystem. But wolves are much larger and hunt large mammals, such as caribou. Many animals, such as musk oxen, wolves, and foxes, grow two layers of fur to help insulate their bodies in subzero winter temperatures. The animals shed this extra layer each spring, when temperatures rise and the extra layer is no longer needed.
Only the top few inches of soil thaw in the summer because the ground beneath it is permafrost. Since roots can´t penetrate or thrive in frozen soil, they grow horizontally instead of vertically. This is a key reason why trees are short-shallow roots don´t anchor tall trees very well.
Willow trees grow to only about 6" tall and hug the ground to escape the fierce winds, which would topple taller trees. In the winter, snow blankets these little trees and protects them from sharp ice crystals.
Residents experience a unique phenomenon each year. For a few months every winter, the only source of light is the moon´s reflection on the snow, leaving darkness both night and day. But for most of the summer, the sun stays above the horizon, making it bright and sunny throughout both day and night.
Animals typically have large, thick bodies (such as musk oxen, caribou, or polar bears) or small, compact ones (such as hares or foxes), and most also have short limbs, ears, and noses. This means less surface area of their bodies is exposed to the freezing temperatures.
Many animals (such as foxes, hares, wolves, and polar bears) and birds (such as snowy owls and terns) grow white outer fur or white feathers to help camouflage them on the snow-covered winter landscape. Wolves and foxes share many traits. Both live in groups (either packs or kits), and have an important part to play in the ecosystem. But wolves are much larger and hunt large mammals, such as caribou. Many animals, such as musk oxen, wolves, and foxes, grow two layers of fur to help insulate their bodies in subzero winter temperatures. The animals shed this extra layer each spring, when temperatures rise and the extra layer is no longer needed.
Only the top few inches of soil thaw in the summer because the ground beneath it is permafrost. Since roots can´t penetrate or thrive in frozen soil, they grow horizontally instead of vertically. This is a key reason why trees are short-shallow roots don´t anchor tall trees very well.
Willow trees grow to only about 6" tall and hug the ground to escape the fierce winds, which would topple taller trees. In the winter, snow blankets these little trees and protects them from sharp ice crystals.
Residents experience a unique phenomenon each year. For a few months every winter, the only source of light is the moon´s reflection on the snow, leaving darkness both night and day. But for most of the summer, the sun stays above the horizon, making it bright and sunny throughout both day and night.
Animals typically have large, thick bodies (such as musk oxen, caribou, or polar bears) or small, compact ones (such as hares or foxes), and most also have short limbs, ears, and noses. This means less surface area of their bodies is exposed to the freezing temperatures.