Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 07/21/2010 - 13:00
Forums
Tundra Plants in a Changing Climate

Howdy Keri,

Since you have seen and experienced first-hand the Costa Rica and Alaska/Artic areas, have you been surprised by the differences and similarities in the types of vegetation and there coloring?

Chris R.

Wed, 07/21/2010 - 14:08

Keri Rodgers

I wouldn't say that I've been surprised, but rather the things I've learn in my science classes now make sense because I'm seeing them first hand.In Costa Rica, the plants varied greatly size-size. There'd be HUGE plants and then there'd be really small plants. However, in the Arctic tundra there's mostly small plants and makes sense. If I were a plant and my environment was really cold and windy, I'd make myself as small as possible to keep warm and protect myself from the wind. It takes a lot of energy to grow branches, big leaves, etc. And the plants in the Arctic are try to stay warm in this really hostile environment.

Wed, 07/21/2010 - 18:13

Anonymous

keri,are the plants in costa rica more colorful than the plants in the artic?
chris r.

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 20:41

Keri Rodgers

Yes, the plants in Costa Rica are much more colorful than the plants in Barrow. Usually, plants are colored or have colored flowers to attract pollinators.Rob says that in Costa Rica there are a wider variety of pollinators so the plants are specialized. Some plants attract hummingbirds, some attract ants, and while others attract wasps. There's so many plant and animal species (biodiversity) in Costa Rica that both the plants and animals are almost a match for each other.
In the Arctic Tundra, the plants are pollinated by flies, bumble bees, and mosquitos. So they are yellow, pink, or red to attract these insects.
The wind is also a major pollinator. Grasses, in general, are pollenated by wind so they do not put energy into creating and maintaining a showy, colorful flower that is scented. Rather their inflorescence (flower) is as small as possible. Next time you go outside in the backyard, look at the top of the grass if you haven't cut it in a week or so. The top part will have an inflorescence (flower) that is very small and able to be carried by the wind.