Adaptations of Arctic and Alpine Plants to Environmental Conditions

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Author: Bliss, L.C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1962
• Subjects: Fast ice; Measurement; Pancake ice; Physical properties; Salinity; Sea ice; Spatial distribution; Strength; North Star Bugt; Greenland; Arctic; Canada; North Star; Pancake; Tundra; Alaska
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/66614

Discusses tundra environments, i.e. beyond the climatic timberline, mostly in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and USSR, and various mechanisms used by plants in adapting to them. Despite a very short growing season with low air and soil temperatures, adverse wind effects, and a low nitrogen-utilization level, tundra plants are well adapted to their environment. They are apparently efficient converters of energy, due partly to their utilization of much of the growing season for growth and development, their use of considerable carbohydrate reserves of the previous year, and the higher caloric values of the species.