ARCTIC FOX. BACTERIA Genus: varies Species: Size: Approximately µm (micrometer) Range: Everywhere BLACK FLY CARIBOU FRONT

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1 FRONT ARCTIC FOX Genus: Alopex Species: lagopus Size: cm (1.5 2 ft.) long; 30 cm (1 ft.) tail; 3 8 kg ( lb.) Range: From western and northern Alaska across northern Canada BACTERIA Genus: varies Species: Size: Approximately µm (micrometer) Range: Everywhere BLACK FLY Genus: Simulium Species: Size: cm ( in.) long Range: Tundra and taiga throughout Alaska and Canada and in eastern U.S. forests CARIBOU Genus: Rangifer Species: tarandus Size: m ( ft.) tall; m (4 5 ft.) long; antlers m (1.5 5 ft.) long; males up to 300 kg (660 lb.) Range: Tundra and taiga in Alaska, most of Canada

2 BACK BACTERIA Natural History: Bacteria are found in all natural environments and are responsible for most of the decomposition of dead organisms. Food: Detritus (decaying organic material) and wastes Predator: Scuds and larval insects Reproduction: Splits into two identical cells Abiotic Impact: Rates for reproduction depend on temperature, water, and nutrient levels. ARCTIC FOX Natural History: Arctic foxes are usually solitary, but not extremely territorial. They depend on their sense of smell when hunting in winter and can locate lemmings in burrows under the snow. Food: Lemmings, voles, ground squirrels, hares, ground-nesting birds, fish, crabs, sea urchins, and carrion. As scavengers, they will follow wolves and polar bears to clean up their prey. Predator: Wolves, polar bears, brown bears, owls, falcons, eagles, wolverines, lynx, and red foxes Shelter: Arctic foxes dig dens in a bank or hillside. During the winter they may burrow into snowbanks. Reproduction: Breeding pairs are monogamous and breed once a year. Females prepare a nest in a summer den that has several entrances. Mating occurs in late winter, with a litter born in April or May. Litter size can be up to 14 kits. The male gathers food and protects the den during the first few days. Both parents rear the kits. Abiotic Impact: Foxes dig a lot around their dens. This disturbance of the soil creates ideal habitat for grasses. Human Impact: Humans hunt foxes for their fur. Photo: David M. Phillips, Visuals Unlimited Photo: Art Explosion CARIBOU Natural History: Caribou usually travel in large herds as they migrate between summer and winter ranges. Migrations may cover 1000 km (600 mi.). Summer migrations are usually led by pregnant cows, moving toward calving grounds. During migrations, several bands may join together and form herds of 10,000 animals. Food: Caribou are browsers and grazers, eating lichen, moss, leaves of shrubs and forbs, and grass. They will chew on dropped antlers as a source of calcium. Caribou occasionally eat lemmings when they are plentiful. Predator: Wolves, bears, wolverines, and lynx. Golden eagles may prey on very young calves. Flies and mosquitoes feed on blood. Shelter: Caribou live in open and semiopen tundra and taiga. In the winter they live in taiga conifer forests, where they have extra cover. Summer ranges tend to be more open, windswept areas to avoid biting flies. Reproduction: Rut (mating season) is October to November. One calf is born to a female, May to July. Calves are well developed at birth, able to stand and run within several hours. Abiotic Impact: Create well-worn trails during migrations Human Impact: Traditional migration routes are easily disturbed by roads and development. Hunting has weakened or eliminated many southern herds. BLACK FLY Natural History: Adults emerge in the spring and swarm in black clouds around most mammals in search of blood. They may carry malaria-like diseases. Food: Larvae are filter feeders found in streams and tundra bogs. Adults feed on mammal blood. Predator: Fish and birds Reproduction: Black fly eggs and larvae can survive the winter and emerge during the spring thaw. They reach their peak numbers in midsummer. Photo: Dwight Kuhn

3 FRONT COTTON GRASS Genus: Eriophorum Species: callitrix Size: cm (8 40 in.) tall Range: Tundra, taiga, and wetlands in temperate to polar parts of the Northern Hemisphere BROWN BEAR Genus: Ursus Species: arctos Size: 2.5 m (8 ft.) long; kg ( lb.) Range: Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming LABRADOR TEA Genus: Ledum Species: groenlandicum Size: 2 m (3 ft.) tall Range: Tundra and taiga in Alaska and Canada and northern United States LEAST WEASEL Genus: Mustela Species: nivalis Size: cm (6.7 8 in.) long; g ( oz.) Range: Alaska, Canada, and the north-central and northeastern United States

4 BACK BROWN BEAR Natural History: Bears roam their territory, moving to be near food sources. During winter they semihibernate. They remain in their dens, but can be easily roused. Despite their size, they have a low metabolism rate that allows them to live on stored body fat for a long time. Food: Omnivores. Most of their diet is made up of plants, sedges, roots, fruits, berries, fungi, insects, and shrubs, but brown bears also eat rodents, rabbits, hares, foxes, minks, weasels, fish, deer, elk, caribou, musk ox, and moose. They are skilled at catching fish, especially migrating salmon. Shelter: Open areas of the tundra, mountains, and coast that offer areas of dense cover. In winter they stay in dens they dig into well-drained slopes. Drifting snow piles up at entrances to help insulate dens. Reproduction: Females give birth during the winter to one to four cubs (usually two) every 3 years. Cubs stay with the mother for about 2 years. Human Impact: Brown bears have been eliminated from much of their territory by humans. They are hunted for sport and to protect livestock. COTTON GRASS Natural History: Cotton grass is shorter in the tundra. It grows in clumps like grass, but it is a sedge. Predator: Reindeer, caribou, elk, deer, rabbits, hares, birds, and small rodents Shelter: Open swamps and bogs in cold climates Reproduction: Flowers are small cottony tufts that occur in clusters. temperature levels. Human Impact: Because of the short growing season in the arctic, cotton grass takes many years to recover from disturbance by humans. LEAST WEASEL Natural History: Because of their size, least weasels often chase rodents into their burrows to catch them. They hunt day and night, but stay within a range of about 0.8 hectares (2 acres). Food: Mainly rodents, including rabbits, hares, lemmings, voles, shrews, and other small animals that don't hibernate during the winter; may eat insects and amphibians during the summer Predator: Larger weasels, domestic cats, snakes, lynx, and bears Shelter: Open tundra, meadows, and fields; brushy edges of marshes and streams Reproduction: Females may breed several times in 1 year if food is plentiful. A litter of 3 10 kits is born about a month after mating and weaned in 4 weeks. LABRADOR TEA Natural History: Labrador tea has shallow roots and grows in the short tundra summer. It can survive temperatures as low as 36ºC ( 33ºF). Labrador tea is a browse plant; tender shoots, twigs, and leaves are eaten by wildlife. Member of the heath family. Predator: Rabbits, hares, and some small rodents eat tender shoots, twigs, and leaves. Shelter: Cold bogs Reproduction: White to creamy flowers 1 cm (0.4 in.) wide grow in clusters at the ends of branches. temperature levels. Human Impact: Because of the short growing season in the arctic, Labrador tea takes many years to recover from disturbance by humans. Photos: National Park Service

5 FRONT LYNX Genus: Lynx Species: canadensis Size: cm ( ft.) long; 5 18 kg (11 40 lb.) Range: Taiga and tundra in Alaska, Canada, and Rocky Mountain areas of Montana and Wyoming MOSQUITO Genus: Aedes Species: Size: Up to 1 cm (0.4 in.) Range: Worldwide in moist areas SNOWY OWL Genus: Nyctea Species: scandiaca Size: cm (20 27 in.) long Range: Arctic region WOLVERINE Genus: Gulo Species: gulo Size: Up to 1 m (3.3 ft.) long; 25 cm (10 in.) tail; 70 kg (155 lb.) Range: Alaska and northwestern Canada

6 BACK MOSQUITO Natural History: Mosquitoes flourish in poorly drained tundra bogs. An irritant to both humans and wildlife, their bites cause reactions ranging from stinging to severe allergic reactions. They can carry malaria-like diseases. Food: Females drink blood and plant nectar. Males drink only plant nectar. Females are attracted to the blood of mammals. Predator: Fish, frogs, and birds Shelter: Larvae are found in quiet water. Reproduction: Eggs survive over winter, and larvae are found in water. Adults emerge in spring, with a peak in June and July. LYNX Natural History: Long ear tufts sharpen the lynx's hearing, while its thick fur allows it to hunt silently in the snow. The large feet aid in both walking on snow and swimming. Food: Rabbits, hares, rodents, birds, fish, foxes, caribou, and deer; carrion in the winter Predator: Coyotes, mountain lions, and wolves. Flies and mosquitoes feed on blood. Shelter: Lynx live in conifer forests near rocky areas, bogs, swamps, and tundra and on the arctic prairie. Reproduction: Mate in February and March. A litter of one to six kittens is born between April and June. Kittens stay with their mother for about a year as she teaches them hunting techniques. Human Impact: Clearing of forests results in loss of lynx habitat causing decreases in population size. Lynx are hunted for their fur. Photos: National Park Service Photo: Erwin and Peggy Bauer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service WOLVERINE Natural History: Wolverines live in snowy regions and do not hibernate. They attack animals, such as caribou, that are stuck in deep snow. Hunting at night, they can travel as far as 30 km (18 mi.) in search of food. Food: Small rodents, rabbits, hares, least weasels, musk ox, caribou, eggs of ground-nesting birds, insects, and a few fruits and berries Predator: Bears and lynx Shelter: Snowy regions with rocky outcrops Reproduction: Mate in summer. Females give birth the next spring to two to five kits. Dens are in rocky crevices or snowbanks. Kits stay with the mother through their first winter and leave the following spring. Human Impact: Humans hunt wolverines for their fur. SNOWY OWL Natural History: Snowy owls rarely make noise except during mating. They hunt silently in daytime. The feathers of the snowy owl are white throughout the year. Food: Rodents, rabbits, hares, some birds, fish, and insects Predator: Wolves, foxes, and lynx Shelter: Usually sit on the ground or rooftops, never in trees Reproduction: Five to eight white eggs laid in an open nest on the tundra. The nest is lined with feathers, mosses, and lichens. Photo: Erwin and Peggy Bauer, Animals Animals Photo: Art Explosion

7 FRONT REINDEER LICHEN Genus: Cladonia Species: rangiferina Size: Up to 8 cm (3 in.) high Range: Alaska, Canada, and northern United States ARCTIC SEDGE Genus: Carex Species: anthoxanthea Size: Up to 30 cm (1 ft.) Range: Worldwide in tundra, taiga, wetlands, swamps, and bogs SNOWSHOE HARE Genus: Lepus Species: americanus Size: cm (15 20 in.) long; kg ( lb.) Range: Alaska, most of Canada, south to northern California and New Mexico, and northeastern United States ARCTIC WILLOW Genus: Salix Species: arctica Size: 1 2 m (3 6.5 ft.) tall Range: Tundra and taiga in Alaska and Canada

8 BACK ARCTIC SEDGE Natural History: Sedges on the tundra are small and stunted because of the short growing season. Predator: Deer, elk, caribou, reindeer, musk ox, bears, rabbits, hares, small rodents, and ground-nesting birds Shelter: In and near bogs, swamps, ponds, streams, and wetlands Reproduction: Flowers of the sedge family are almost all wind-pollinated. temperature levels. Human Impact: In places with a short growing season, sedges take many years to recover from disturbance by humans. REINDEER LICHEN Natural History: Reindeer lichen grows in great abundance in Arctic regions and can cover immense pastures. Predator: Caribou, reindeer, moose, musk ox, rabbits, hares, and small rodents Reproduction: Very slow growth, only about 3 5 cm (1 2 in.) per year temperature levels. The most rapid growth occurs during spring and fall when humidity is high and temperatures are cool. Human Impact: Because they grow so slowly, lichens take many years to recover from disturbance by humans. ARCTIC WILLOW Natural History: In the Arctic, willows grow as small, matted, woody plants. Tender shoots, twigs, and leaves eaten by wildlife are called browse. Member of the willow family. Predator: Elk, caribou, musk ox, bears, rabbits, hares, rodents, and ground-nesting birds Shelter: Edges of tundra swamps, bogs, and streams Reproduction: Male and female flowers are on separate trees. temperature levels. Human Impact: Because of the short growing season in the arctic, this willow takes many years to recover from disturbance by humans. SNOWSHOE HARE Natural History: Snowshoe hares usually stay within a territory of about 10 hectares (25 acres). Populations fluctuate in a 9 10-year cycle. These changes may have to do with population densities and the stress this puts on reproduction rates. The population of the lynx is closely linked to that of the snowshoe hare. Food: Green vegetation, especially clover, grasses, mosses, lichens, sedges, and forbs. In winter, snowshoe hares eat twigs and bark from willows and evergreen leaves. They may also eat frozen meat. Predator: Lynx, owls, golden eagles, bobcats, red foxes, arctic foxes, bears, wolves, minks, weasels, and wolverines Shelter: Snowshoe hares live in dense, brushy cover in the forest. During the day they hide in thickets. They browse at night. Long white hairs that grow on the hares during the winter help keep the animals warm and camouflage them in snow. Reproduction: Females may produce up to four litters each year, with one to eight babies. Like all true hares, they are born with fur and with their eyes open. Hares can run within an hour of birth and can begin to leave the nest at about 3 weeks.

9 FRONT WILLOW PTARMIGAN Genus: Lagopus Species: lagopus Size: 38 cm (15 in.) long Range: Alaska and northern Canada ALPINE AZALEA Genus: Loiseleuria Species: procumbens Size: Up to 15 cm (6 in.) tall Range: Tundra and taiga in Alaska and Canada and alpine areas south BROWN LEMMING Genus: Lemmus Species: sibiricus Size: cm ( in.) long; g (1.7 4 oz.) Range: Tundra in Alaska and northwestern Canada MUSK OX Genus: Ovibos Species: moschatus Size: 1 m (3.3 ft.) tall; 2 m (6.5 ft.) long; up to 400 kg (880 lb.) Range: Northern Alaska and Northwest Territories

10 BACK ALPINE AZALEA WILLOW PTARMIGAN Natural History: The alpine azalea grows along the edges of tundra swamps and bogs. It is a browse plant and a member of the heath family. Azaleas growing on the tundra are very small and compact. Predator: Rabbits, hares, small rodents, and ground-nesting birds Shelter: Acidic and moist soils Reproduction: Small bell-shaped flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects. temperature levels. Human Impact: Because of the short growing season in the arctic, the alpine azalea takes many years to recover from disturbance by humans. Natural History: The plumage of the willow ptarmigan changes from brown to white between summer and winter. As ptarmigans molt feathers throughout the year, different colors and patterns appear, camouflaging the birds through the changing seasons. Food: Mainly willows, but also the leaves, buds, and berries of tundra plants; sedges; and insects Predator: Lynx, foxes, wolves, wolverines, and minks Shelter: A ground-nesting bird, the ptarmigan stays mainly on the tundra, but will retreat to willow and pine forests for cover. It burrows into snow to sleep. Reproduction: Seven to ten red eggs with black spots are laid in a shallow nest scraped out in the tundra. Both males and females remain with the nest, and both assist in rearing the brood. Photo: Jim Zipp, Photo Researchers, Inc. Photo: Jeffrey A. Spendelow, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center MUSK OX Natural History: Herds usually consist of a bull, several females, calves, and immature males. Musk ox are agile and surefooted like goats, but their primary means of defense is to form an outward-facing circle with calves in the center. Horns are used to defend and ward off predators. Excellent swimmers, musk ox will wade into water to escape predators. Food: Willows, tundra grasses, shrubs, mosses, lichens, and forbs Predator: Wolves, wolverines, and bears Shelter: Musk ox travel in herds across the tundra, near lakes, and in riverbeds in search of food. Reproduction: Females bear one calf a year. The calf is up and following its mother around within a day. Abiotic Impact: Wool shed during the summer catches on brush and shrubs. This wool is often used as nesting material by other animals. Human Impact: Musk ox are sometimes hunted for sport and in their defense rings are easy to shoot. They are now protected. A few herds are semidomesticated and raised for their wool. BROWN LEMMING Natural History: Population size is related to food resources. When food is abundant, numbers increase rapidly, resulting in crowding. Even when lemmings are densely packed, they are not sociable animals and will fight with each other. Population booms follow a 3 4-year cycle and are linked to population booms of some predatory birds. Food: Grasses, sedges, mosses, lichens, and leaves in the summer; bark and twigs in the winter Predator: Owls, ravens, hawks, weasels, minks, lynx, arctic foxes, wolves, wolverines, and bears Shelter: Lemmings live in wet tundra areas, along streambeds, and in meadows. They dig several tunnels to underground chambers that are lined with fur. In winter, they tunnel through snow. Aboveground nests are woven balls of dried grasses about 20 cm (8 in.) in diameter. Reproduction: Females may have one to three litters per year of 1 13 babies. Photo: Art Explosion Photo: Tom McHugh, Photo Researchers, Inc.