Cold Environments

Question 1

How are plants adapted to cold environments?

Answer 1

1. Plants become dormant to survive the cold, dark winters.
2. Low growing and round shaped to provide protection from wind
3. Shallow roots because of the layer of permafrost.
4. Small leaves to limit moisture lost from transpiration.
5. Adapted to a short growing season.
6. Underground runners/bulbs used to reproduce to cope with the cold

Question 2

How have animals adapted to cold environments?

Answer 2

1. Animals are well-insulated - thick fur (polar bear). Reduces energy.
2. Hibernation to conserve energy (arctic squirrels).
3. Limited food sources,
4. Birds migrate in winter
5. Animals grow white winter coats for camouflage (foxes, hares)

Question 3

Why is biodiversity low?

Answer 3

Fewer species than most places, which means one change affect more species that live there

Question 4

Development Opportunities in Alaska -

Answer 4

1. Energy - oil + gas, (trans-Alaskan pipeline).
2. Mineral resources (gold, silver, iron ore). 154 million of gold in 2015.
3. Fishing 1.7 billion valuation.
4. Tourism brings in 2.5 billion

Question 5

Challenges to development in Alaska

Answer 5

1. Extreme temp - cold, strong winds, snow daylight hours vary.
2. Inaccessibility - long way from anywhere. Mountainous terrain. In winter, you can only travel through ice roads or air. In summer, roads are too soft.
3. Buildings - safe buildings are expensive.
   Work only takes place in summer.
   Trans-Alaskan pipeline is on stilts to prevent it melting the permafrost layer which would make the ground unstable

Question 6

Why are they worth conserving?

Answer 6

1. Provide habitats for organisms.
2. Scientists can study them to get knowledge.
3. Can help scientists to replicate conditions on managed ecosystems which can preserve rare species

Question 7

Why are they fragile?

Answer 7

1. Plant growth is slow
2. Species are highly specialised, so find it difficult to adapt to change.

Question 8

Strategies to help

Answer 8

1. Governments can pass laws to protect designated wilderness areas from development.
2. Some cold environments are protected by international agreements. Allows tourism but not harmful.
3. Modern construction methods can minimise environmental impacts.
4. Conservation groups pressure governments to protect cold environments. Leads to sustainable development