North American Arctic
[3] The indigenous peoples who migrated from other lands and settled in the North American Arctic also had to adapt to living conditions.
[5] The major lands that make up the North American Arctic from west to east are: Alaska has endless lowlands and plains.
[5][failed verification] It also experiences high seasonal fluctuations in daylight, and severe winds due to the Earth's tilt and its polar location.
[5][6] The region has an abundance of wildlife that has adapted to its intense conditions, ranging from large mammals such as polar bears and muskox, to small birds, and various species of plants.
[3] Flora must try to grow in a harsh environment that experiences continuous sunlight during the summer, and low temperatures, dry winds, heavy snow and frozen ground and soil throughout the year.
[3] Due to permafrost, a short growing season, and dark and long winters of strong winds and extreme cold, the region experiences being almost treeless with only vegetation such as moss and lichen being able to live.
[5] Even though annual precipitation is extremely low, there are numerous lakes, ponds and wetlands that are able to support relatively lush vegetation.
[5] Compared to warmer regions of the Earth, fauna species in the North American Arctic are small but populations are large.
[6] Due to ice melting and turning into ponds during summer, the ecosystem also sees insects including moths and mosquitoes.
[6] Some animals have adapted to the conditions in the region by conserving heat, with many species covered in heavy fur coats and having thick layers of fat beneath the skin while others have developed compact body shapes.
[6] Many species of animals have stiff fur on their feet to create a barrier between their pads and toes, and the snow which allows them to walk more easily.
[5] Animals have a small window of opportunity to successfully reproduce and birth of their young has to coincide with the abundance of prey otherwise the food chain will be disrupted.
[5] Due to Western culture, native peoples now make up approximately 16% of the population of Alaska and they now live in wooden homes, and purchase clothing and food.
[5] Climate change has also affected the traditional way of life, which doesn't exist for most anymore, as melting ice has impacted hunting and fishing.
[4] Climate change, which is a phenomenon also known as the greenhouse effect, is the warming that occurs when certain gases in the atmosphere prevent heat from escaping.
[4] Ice sheets have been observed to form later, separate earlier, and rapidly decline in age, thickness distribution and regional coverage.
[7] There is also potential for carbon dioxide and methane levels to rise in the atmosphere as a result of increased production by micro-organisms in thawing permafrost.
[4] This is because effects to the North American Arctic has direct consequences on the rest of the world including sea levels rising worldwide.
