Arctic ecosystems

Arctic ecosystems are environments located in the northernmost parts of Earth, characterized by cold temperatures, sea ice, and tundra landscapes. These ecosystems host specially adapted plants, animals, and microorganisms that survive extreme conditions, such as polar bears, Arctic foxes, seals, and hardy mosses and lichens. The cold, dark winters and short, cool summers influence when plants grow and animals breed. Arctic ecosystems are sensitive and rely on a delicate balance; climate change’s warming temperatures threaten this balance by melting ice and altering habitats, which impacts local wildlife and global climate patterns.