Tundra, Mosses, Lichens and Reindeer
Let's learn about the cold tundra and the tiny plants that help reindeer survive.
1. What is the tundra?
The tundra is a very cold place with little soil and few trees. It has rocks, low plants, lots of snow in winter, and short summers.
2. What are mosses and lichens?
- Mosses are tiny, soft green plants that often grow in clumps.
- Lichens look like crusts or small leafy patches on rocks. They are a team: a fungus and an algae living together.
3. How do they grow on bare rocks?
- Moss and lichens can grow where soil is thin or missing. They don't need deep soil like trees do.
- They can hold water and catch tiny bits of dust and nutrients from rain or air.
- Over many years, they slowly help make soil by breaking down rock and collecting dead bits, so other plants can grow later.
4. Why are they food for reindeer?
Reindeer eat mosses and lichens because these plants grow in the tundra where few other foods are available. In winter, lichens are especially important because they stay under the snow and are still edible.
5. How do reindeer find them under the snow?
- Reindeer have strong hooves to dig through snow.
- They can smell or sense the food and scrape away snow to reach the mosses and lichens.
6. Why is this important?
If mosses and lichens are healthy, reindeer have food and stay strong. Many animals (and people) depend on reindeer for food and clothing, so these tiny plants help the whole tundra community.
Fun idea
Look at a rock outside or in a garden. Can you spot tiny green patches or crusty bits? Those might be mosses or lichens. Try drawing them! They may look small, but they do big jobs in nature.
Quick fact: Lichens can live where almost nothing else can — even on bare rock!