Plan

1. Appearance
2. Distribution
3. Lifestyle and nutrition

5. Economic importance
6. Population status and conservation

1. Appearance

Polar bear, or polar bear, or northern Bear, or sea ​​bear - a predatory mammal of the bear family, close relative brown bear

The polar bear is distinguished from other bears by its long neck and flat head. His skin is black. The color of the coat varies from white to yellowish; In summer, the fur may turn yellow due to constant exposure to sunlight. The polar bear's fur is devoid of pigment color, and the hairs are hollow. Translucent hairs only allow ultra-violet rays, giving wool thermal insulation properties. In ultraviolet photography, a polar bear appears dark. Due to the structure of the hairs, a polar bear can sometimes turn green. This happens in hot climates (in zoos), when microscopic algae grow inside the hairs.

The soles of the feet are lined with wool to prevent slipping on ice and freezing. There is a swimming membrane between the toes, and the front part of the paws is lined with stiff bristles. Large claws can hold even strong prey.

The pointed muzzle easily cuts through the water, very warm, thick fur and a layer of subcutaneous fat allow the well-swimming predator to stay in water for a long time. cold water swimming across long distances between ice fields. The hind legs serve as a rudder, and the front legs, densely covered with hair, form continuous paddle blades. The specific body weight of a bear is close to specific gravity water. The fur in the water does not get wet and retains air, supporting the body of this giant in the water, allowing it to swim for hours and even sleep without getting out on the ice. Bears can swim 100 km from land!

2. Distribution

In Russia the polar bear is constantly lives in space from Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya to Chukotka. On floating ice it sometimes reaches Kamchatka. Distances deep into the continent have been noted (up to 500 km along the Yenisei River). The southern border of the habitat coincides with the edge of drifting ice.

3. Lifestyle and nutrition

It lives on drifting and fast sea ice, where it hunts its main prey: ringed seal, bearded seal, walrus and other marine animals. He catches them, sneaking up from behind shelters, or near holes: as soon as the animal sticks its head out of the water, the bear stuns the prey with a blow of its paw and pulls it out onto the ice. Sometimes the ice floe on which the seals are located topples over from below. A walrus can only be dealt with on land. First of all, it devours the skin and fat, the rest of the carcass only in case of severe hunger. The remains of the prey are eaten by Arctic foxes. On occasion, he picks up carrion, dead fish, eggs and chicks, can eat grass and seaweed, in inhabited areas it feeds on garbage dumps. There are known cases of robbing food warehouses of polar expeditions.

Makes seasonal migrations in accordance with annual changes in the border polar ice: in summer it retreats with them closer to the pole, in winter it moves south, entering the mainland. Although the polar bear stays mainly on the coast and ice, in winter it can lie in a den on the mainland or on islands, sometimes 50 km from the sea.

IN hibernation, lasting 50-80 days, are mainly inhabited by pregnant females. Males and single females hibernate for a short period of time and not annually.

Despite their apparent clumsiness, polar bears are fast and agile even on land, and in water they swim and dive easily. Very thick, dense fur protects the bear's body from cold and getting wet in icy water. An important adaptive role is played by a thick layer of subcutaneous fat up to 10 cm thick. White coloring helps camouflage the predator. The senses of smell, hearing and vision are well developed - a bear can see its prey from several kilometers away, a ringed seal can smell it from 800 m away, and, being right above its nest, it hears the slightest movement.

4. Social structure and reproduction

Solitary animals. As a rule, they are peaceful towards each other, but clashes occur between males during the mating season. Adult males can attack cubs, mostly males.

In October, females dig a den in the coastal snow drifts. Mother bears have favorite places where they gather en masse to give birth, for example about. Wrangel or Franz Josef Land, where there are 150-200 dens annually.

Newborns are helpless, like all bears, and have a mass from 450 to 750. After 3 months, the female leaves the den with them and switches to a wandering lifestyle. The cubs remain with her for up to 1.5 years, during which time the bear feeds them milk. In broods there are usually 1-3, more often 1-2 cubs.

Life expectancy - maximum 25-30 years; in captivity the longevity record is 45 years.

5. Economic importance

Residents of the Arctic, for example, the Eskimos hunt polar bears for their skin and meat. In Russia, hunting it has been completely prohibited since 1956.

6. Population status and conservation

The polar bear is protected in the reserve on Wrangel Island and is included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Slow reproduction and high mortality of young animals make this animal easily vulnerable.

By the beginning of the 70s. XX century 5-7 thousand polar bears lived in the Russian sector of the Arctic, and throughout the Arctic their number did not exceed 20 thousand. In 1973 was signed International Agreement on the Conservation of the Polar Bear. Ten years later, the number of bears increased and amounted to over 25 thousand.

Zoos perform important function to maintain endangered species by researching animal habits, educating the public about endangered species, and coordinating breeding programs internationally.

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Days and nights in the Arctic can last for months, and the sky lights up at night northern lights. Ice blocks float in its oceans, and people move from place to place on dog sleds and build themselves quite cozy homes from the snow. The animals and plants of the Arctic are so unique that it is impossible not to tell about them.

What is the Arctic?

The name “Arctic” goes back to the ancient Greek arktos, which translated into Russian sounds like “bear”. It's worth noting that this has nothing to do with polar bears. The Arctic, the animals and vegetation of which are the topic of this article, is a single physical-geographical region globe, directly adjacent to the North Pole. The Arctic is one of the geographic poles of our planet and is the most inaccessible territory of the Earth, completely covered with ice.

Arctic fauna: who lives here?

The Arctic is home to a number of unique and rarely seen animals. Here, musk oxen, bighorn sheep, wild reindeer, Arctic hares, polar owls, terns and, of course, the kings of the North - polar bears, trample the ice. It is impossible not to mention the eternal companions of polar bears - arctic foxes, whose fur is very valuable. Arctic foxes also have direct competitors - wolves, who inhabit an amazing place called the Arctic.

Animals in this region are not limited to land animals. For example, the marine inhabitants inhabiting the eternal kingdom of ice include walruses, seals, fish and several species of cetaceans: killer whales, beluga whales, narwhals and the notorious bowhead whales.

European predators also live in the Arctic - wolverines, stoats, which have adapted to such extreme life. True, in this region they remain in the minority, but this does not prevent them from hunting. Among the rodents that have adapted to difficult living conditions, we can note mouse-like lemmings and long-tailed ground squirrels.

What is the most famous animal of the Arctic?

The polar bear is not only a well-known inhabitant of the North Pole, but also its universally recognized symbol! These bears are real travelers. At the same time, they do not so much make long journeys on the Arctic coast as they enjoy swimming on drifting ice floes.

Polar bears are created for life in ice; they are not afraid of cold and icy water. Moreover, from time to time they plunge into this water in order to swim from one ice floe to another. Dense and thick fur perfectly protects these predators from frost, and wide, hairy and massive paws with sharp claws allow them to boldly move not only on snow, but also on ice.

Seals

Another famous animal of the Arctic is the seal. These mammals are distributed throughout the polar region, found in all Arctic seas adjacent to the Arctic Ocean. They inhabited the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and also settled in the Baltic and North seas. On land, these pinnipeds are helpless and clumsy, but in the water they are real acrobats!

Seals swim deftly and resourcefully, no worse than the fish that, by the way, they hunt. What else can they do? After all, what do Arctic animals eat in such harsh conditions? Of course, sea shellfish, crabs and fish. They simply are not given anything else. Even if predatory polar bears make a living from fishing, what can we say about seals?

It is worth noting that seals prefer to frolic in cold coastal waters without swimming to the depths. Often, like polar bears, they make long journeys while on drifting ice floes. In cold water, seals are not cold at all: they have waterproof fur and a thick layer of subcutaneous fat.

Arctic whales

In the seas of the Arctic Ocean you can find many species of whales, but only three of them can be called real northerners: they all year round do not leave the polar region; the Arctic is not scary for them. The animals of the North simply cannot compare with these giants in their endurance and resistance to cold! So, the “devoted” inhabitants of the Arctic include the polar or bowhead whale, as well as the narwhal and beluga whale.

All three species differ from the rest of their relatives in the absence of a dorsal fin characteristic of cetaceans. Scientists believe that it is no coincidence that the dorsal fin of these animals “fell off” during the process of evolution: Arctic whales often have to break through the ice with their backs in order to float to the surface and take a sip fresh air. If such a fin had been preserved, they would simply have mutilated themselves.

Flora of the Arctic

If we have figured out what animals live in the Arctic, then flora things are most dire. What plants can generally grow in regions bound by impassable ice all year round? Unfortunately, very few... For example, grasses, shrubs, cereals and, of course, mosses and lichens grow in the Arctic.

As is known, in summer period The air temperature here is quite low, which causes a poor variety of plant species. Climate also affects the size of flora representatives. This is partly due to the fact that there are no trees at all in the Arctic. In warm regions, shrubs grow that can reach a height of 2 meters, but no more. Mosses, sedges and lichens form something like a soft litter.

Speaking about the unique flora of the North Pole, one cannot help but mention the so-called Arctic deserts. These are the most northern natural zones, almost completely devoid of any vegetation. Only occasionally in these deserts can you find a polar poppy, and nothing more! All in all, animal world The Arctic is much richer and more diverse than plant life.

Endangered

Since the Arctic is the northern polar region of the globe, climate change within this region poses a serious threat to some of the local fauna. Many animals living in the Arctic, in particular polar bears, are at risk. The fact is that when reducing the area sea ​​ice these animals are forced to move to the coasts, but their food supply there is much smaller than in the open Arctic oceans.

Scientists doing research seasonal changes in the Arctic, they calculated: if the duration summer season here will begin to grow and increase from 120 to 180 days, then mortality among adult male polar bears will increase from 3-7% to 30-49%. The likelihood of encounters between females and males during their breeding season also depends on the presence of drifting ice.

Scientists say that the effect of males searching for females will directly depend on the dispersion of the polar bear population on the ice and on the fragmentation of the ice itself. Since polar bears regulate the numbers of fish, walruses and seals, with their disappearance, the rest of the Arctic animal world may become incorrectly fragmented, upsetting the natural balance and structure of the food chain.

Red Book: problems and solutions

Many species of animals living in the Arctic are listed in the Red Book as endangered species. For example, musk oxen, Atlantic and Laptev walruses, and the narwhal whale are on the verge of extinction. Currently, the ivory gull, a rare Arctic bird species nesting on the islands of the Kara Sea, is on the verge of extinction.

Arctic animals in the Red Book are a serious problem that requires an immediate solution. One such solution is nature reserves. Currently, the largest reserve for rare species of animals and plants inhabiting the territory of the North Pole is the Great Arctic Nature Reserve.

It was created back in 1993 with the goal of researching and preserving all possible biocomplexes of the Taimyr Island and its surrounding territories. Its second name is the Arctic Nature Reserve. The animals living in this reserve are represented by 18 species of mammals, 124 species of birds and 29 species of fish.

Just because the Arctic is called an icy desert does not mean that these expanses are lifeless. Despite the harsh living conditions, the plants and animals of the Arctic are amazing and diverse. In this lesson we will learn how plants have adapted to a long absence of sun, low temperatures and piercing winds, why walruses need vibrissae, why the polar bear is called the king of the Arctic, how puffins and guillemots live, and much more.

The sun's rays only glide over their surface, giving little heat, because the sun never rises high here (Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. Sun of the Arctic ()

The Arctic has a very harsh climate: snow and ice lie almost all year, winter is very long and frosty (up to -60°), hurricane winds blow, and blizzards rage for several weeks in a row. From mid-October the sun is no longer visible - the long polar night begins (lasts up to 6 months). Sometimes during the polar night there are auroras, which last from several minutes to several days and are so extensive that their light is enough even for reading (Fig. 3).

Rice. 3. Aurora ()

At the end of February the sun appears and the day begins to arrive. And from mid-May to mid-June the sun does not hide at all - the polar day begins. But even at this time the temperature rises only a few degrees above zero.

The islands are so poor in vegetation that they are called arctic deserts. Found on rocks moss, lichens, polar poppy and some other plants (Fig. 4-6).

Rice. 4. Mosses on the stone ()

Rice. 5. Lichens on stone ()

Rice. 6. Polar poppy ()

All plants here are dwarfs, their height is no more than 10 cm, only polar willow reaches 1 m (Fig. 7).

Rice. 7. Polar willow ()

But all plants, protecting themselves from the cold and wind, are forced to hug the ground.

The sea feeds all the inhabitants of the ice zone. They actively reproduce in water rich in oxygen and carbon dioxide. algae and crustaceans- the first link in the food chain of the Arctic zone (Fig. 8).

Rice. 8. Seaweed, crustaceans and other ocean inhabitants ()

Fish and birds feed on them. Birds gather in large flocks, settle on rocks, and, despite the crowded size and size of the flock, each bird unmistakably finds its nest (Fig. 9).

Rice. 9. Nesting of guillemots ()

Guillemots- noisy birds that nest on steep cliffs, where no animal can reach (Fig. 10).

Guillemots hatch only one cone-shaped egg (this shape protects the egg from falling from high rocks). When the chick grows up, the guillemot throws it into the water, where its adult life begins: guillemots are excellent swimmers and divers (in water they reach speeds of up to 20 km/h, reaching a depth of 140 m).

Seagulls They have also adapted to Arctic conditions: they fly well, swim well, but dive poorly (Fig. 11).

On some islands you can see a huge amount dead ends(Fig. 12).

These are beautiful silent birds with an unusual beak. To live, they choose islands with a thick layer of peat, in which they dig nests for themselves using their clawed paws and beaks. The puffin is an excellent provider: it can stay underwater for up to 30 seconds, chasing fish, and bring up to 10 fish to the nest at a time.

Another food chain is algae - crustaceans - whales(Fig. 13).

These huge animals are perfectly adapted to life in the icy zone: waterproof skin and a thick layer of fat underneath protect them from the cold.

Seals- another inhabitants of the Arctic, they live both on land and in water (Fig. 14).

They are excellent swimmers. They need up to 16 kg of food per day. At the end of winter, seals give birth to snow-white babies - pups. The white color helps babies hide, camouflaging themselves under the snow to escape from enemies, primarily from the polar bear. And adult seals escape from their main enemy in the water, because on land they are slow and clumsy.

Polar bear called the king of the Arctic, a great traveler and hunter (Fig. 15).

Rice. 15. Polar bear ()

This animal has perfectly adapted to life in the icy zone: it is fast and agile on land and in water, strong, has an excellent sense of smell, thick white fur and wide paws with sharp claws. Like all inhabitants of the Arctic, he has small ears - so as not to freeze. Female mothers lie down in snow dens for the winter, where they give birth to cubs (most often there are two cubs, they are small, the size of a mitten). Mama bear feeds them and keeps them warm. In the spring, the cubs will leave the den, but for another two years the mother bear will teach her cubs to fish, hunt seals, and much more (Fig. 16).

Rice. 16. Polar bear with cubs ()

The fauna of the Arctic is unique. A nature reserve was created on Wrangel Island - here largest clusters walruses(Fig. 17).

Walrus tusks- a universal tool for obtaining food and a weapon for defending against the enemy, as well as a badge of honor (whoever has the largest and most powerful tusks is in charge). The walrus has a thick mustache on its face - vibrissae- with the help of which they find food at the bottom of the sea (Fig. 18).

Rice. 18. Vibrissae on the face of a walrus ()

In this reserve you can also see muskoxen(Fig. 19).

Rice. 19. Musk oxen ()

They once lived on the territory of Russia, but then disappeared, and scientists brought them to Wrangel Island from North America(this is how rare and endangered species of animals are preserved).

This reserve is also called the maternity hospital of polar bears - mother bears come here from all over the Arctic, scientists count up to 250 dens per year.

For many years, the Arctic has been attracting people who, risking their lives in extreme conditions, study its vastness and draw up maps (Fig. 20).

Rice. 20. Arctic Explorers ()

Polar stations are set up on drifting ice floes where people live and work. polar scientists. They observe the weather, flora and fauna of the Arctic (Fig. 21).

Rice. 21. Polar station ()

In the next lesson we will talk about the zone that is located south of the Arctic deserts - the tundra, its harsh climate and unique nature.

Bibliography

1. Vakhrushev A.A., Danilov D.D. The world 3. - M.: Ballas.
2. Dmitrieva N.Ya., Kazakov A.N. The world around us 3. - M.: Publishing House "Fedorov".
3. Pleshakov A.A. The world around us 3. - M.: Enlightenment.

1. Geo-site.ru ().
2. Biofile.ru ().
3. Do.gendocs.ru ().

Homework

1. Make a short test (6 questions with three answer options) on the topic “Arctic Desert Zone”.
2. Prepare a short report about one of the Arctic animals.
3. Think about how the appearance and habits of a brown bear would change if it lived in the Arctic desert.
4. * Using the knowledge gained in class, create a short (10 questions) crossword puzzle on the topic “Arctic”.

30.11.2016

The Arctic is the region located around the North Pole. There are polar days and nights, winters are very cold, and summer temperatures do not rise above zero degrees. But for many creatures, such extreme conditions are only a plus. What animals live in the Arctic. We offer you descriptions and photographs of the most interesting animals of the Arctic.

Carnivorous mammals of the Arctic

Most Arctic predators are ferocious hunters with voracious appetites that can attack livestock and even humans. The number of individuals in the population of Arctic predators depends primarily on the number of lemmings, which are the main “delicacy” for arctic foxes, wolverines, polar wolves, and in some cases, reindeer.

1. Polar bear

The largest representative of the Bear family, listed in the Red Book of the World back in 1953, is not found anywhere except the Arctic. To live, he needs clearings of drifting ice, ice holes or the edge of ice fields, and seals - his favorite food.

The closest recorded habitat of polar bears to the pole has a latitude of 88°15". Some male polar bears reach three meters in height and a ton of weight. But with such impressive size and apparent clumsiness, polar bears are extremely active and hardy animals.

Polar bears are excellent swimmers, covering up to 80 km in icy waters, thanks to the membrane on their paw pads. Polar bears easily travel about 40 km per day, coping with difficult ice ridges and deep snow. Polar bear fur retains heat so well that even aerial infrared imaging cannot detect it.

2. Wolverine

A large representative of the Mustelidae family, a ferocious predator and an extremely voracious animal. Due to the ability of this animal to attack livestock and even people, it is also called the Demon of the North. The weight of wolverines varies from 9 to 30 kg, and appearance they look more like badgers or bears.

Unlike other representatives of the Mustelidae family, the wolverine migrates within its own individual plot, being in constant search of food. The animal easily climbs trees thanks to its sharp claws and powerful paws. It makes sounds similar to the yelps of dogs and has excellent hearing, vision and sense of smell.

The wolverine is omnivorous, it can both eat leftover food from other predators and hunt on its own even quite large animals; it also eats plants - berries, nuts. This is such a brave and vicious animal that even the owner of the Arctic, the Polar Bear, tries to avoid it when meeting it.

3. Arctic wolf

This subspecies of wolf lives throughout the tundra and Arctic. It usually feeds on small animals - arctic hares and lemmings, but musk ox and reindeer are also part of its diet. In the harsh conditions of polar nights and long cold periods, he adapted to feeding on any food.

Polar wolves can only survive in a pack. In the Arctic deserts, where there is no room for an ambush, they have to resort to another - social hunting tactics, often patiently waiting for the victims to make a mistake and weaken their defenses.

4. Arctic fox, or polar fox

The polar or arctic fox is a predatory animal, the only representative of the Arctic fox genus. Unlike the common fox, it has a shortened muzzle, small rounded ears, paws covered with coarse hair and a squat body. Depending on the season, the fur of the Arctic fox can be white, blue, brown, dark gray, light coffee or sand. Based on this characteristic, 10 subspecies of animals are distinguished that live in different territories.

No further than half a kilometer from the water, the arctic fox digs complex burrows with numerous entrances. But in winter period he often has to make do with a den in the snow. He eats everything; his diet includes both plants and animals. But the basis of its diet are birds and lemmings.

Ungulate mammals of the Arctic

The plant populations of the Arctic provide for the existence of large groups of large herbivorous ungulates. Their numbers are subject to strong changes due to long cold periods. An adaptation to this is their migration to forest areas located to the south.

1. Reindeer

Animals evolve the faster the more complex the conditions of their existence. Reindeer are so different from other representatives of the Olenev family that it immediately becomes clear that they are okay with difficulties. Caribou (as they are called in North America) are not only champions of survival, but also the youngest members of the family. They appeared only about two million years ago.

The flat and wide hooves of reindeer, pointed at the edges, turn the animals into all-terrain vehicles. They travel through snow, swamps and ice with ease. These same hooves, used instead of flippers, help deer to swim perfectly and overcome not only large rivers such as the Yenisei, but also sea straits. Their fur has a special structure; its hairs expand towards the end and create a heat-insulating air layer. Even their upper lip and nose are covered with delicate, soft hair.

Reindeer eat a variety of food - in summer it is succulent plants, in winter - lichens and shrubs. To compensate for the lack of microelements, they gnaw on their own discarded antlers and eat algae and shells washed ashore. An important reason for their survival is their herd lifestyle.

2. Muskox

A rare powerful hoofed animal, the same age as the mammoth, with a thick undercoat that is several times warmer than that of a lamb. Their long, thick hair hangs from above almost to the ground and covers the animal, leaving only the hooves, horns, nose and lips outside. Musk oxen survive the winter cold without migrating and easily tolerate very coldy, but die in the presence of high snow cover, especially with an ice crust on top.

Pinniped mammals of the Arctic

Their nostrils are large enough to allow them to inhale enough air to stay underwater for up to 10 minutes. Their forelimbs are transformed into flippers, and their food is marine life - mollusks, krill, fish, crustaceans. Let's introduce the most common pinnipeds of the Arctic.

1. Walrus

The only modern representative of the Walrus family is easily distinguishable thanks to its massive tusks. In terms of size, it ranks second among pinnipeds after the elephant seal, but the ranges of these animals do not overlap. Walruses live in herds and bravely protect each other from enemies.

2. Seal

They have a wider distribution and live along the shores of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. They are very good swimmers, although they cannot be found far from the shore. Seals do not freeze in cold water thanks to a thick layer of subcutaneous fat and waterproof fur.

3. Navy SEAL

Fur seals, together with sea lions, belong to the family of eared seals. When moving, seals rely on all their limbs, and their eyes have a dark outline. In summer, the Northern fur seal lives in the north Pacific Ocean, and with the arrival of autumn it migrates to the south.

4. Northern elephant seal

It should be noted here that elephant seals are divided into northern (living in the Arctic) and southern (living in the Antarctic). Elephant seals got their name because of the impressive size and trunk-like nose of old males. They live on the Arctic coast of North America and even further south. Adult males reach a mass of 3.5 tons.

Marine mammals of the Arctic

No other mammal has the ability to survive the harsh conditions of the Arctic with cetaceans such as the beluga whale, narwhal and bowhead whale. They do not have the dorsal fin present in other cetaceans. The Arctic is home to about 10 species of marine mammals - whales (fin whales, blue whales, humpbacks and sperm whales) and dolphins (killer whales). Let's talk about the most popular of them.

1. Narwhal

They are distinguished by the presence of only two upper teeth, of which the left one in males develops into a tusk up to 3 meters long and weighing up to 10 kg. With this tusk, males break the ice, making holes; it also serves to attract females and many other purposes.

2. Belukha

This is a species of toothed whale from the Narwhal family. Beluga whales also require atmospheric oxygen and risk suffocation if trapped under solid ice for long periods of time. They feed on fish and make a variety of sounds.

3. Bowhead whale

This is the only representative of baleen whales that lives its entire life within the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere. In the spring they migrate north, and in the fall they sail a little south, avoiding the ice. They feed on plankton.

4. Orca (killer whale)

The killer whale is the largest predatory dolphin. Its coloring is contrasting - black and white with distinctive white spots above the eyes. Other original feature Killer whales have a high, sickle-shaped dorsal fin. Different populations of these predators specialize in certain food. Some killer whales prefer herring and migrate after their schools, others hunt pinnipeds. They have no rivals and are the top of the food chain.

Rodents of the Arctic

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of lemmings for the existence of animals in the Arctic deserts. Almost all of the above-mentioned land animals feed on them. And polar owls don't even nest if the lemming population is not in the best condition.

Animals of the Arctic listed in the Red Book

Currently, some Arctic animals are endangered. Natural and human-induced changes in the climatic conditions of the Arctic pose a significant threat to the animal world. The list of Arctic animals included in the Red Book includes the following representatives of the Arctic zone.

• Polar bear.
• Bowhead whale.
• Narwhal.
• Reindeer.
• Atlantic and Laptev walruses.

TO rare species animals also include the musk ox. His ancestors lived on Earth back in the days of mammoths.

In June 2009, by order of the Russian government, it was created national park“Russian Arctic”, the main task of which is to preserve and study representatives of the flora and fauna of the Arctic, which are on the verge of complete extinction.

Animals of the Arctic do not live at the North Pole itself; it is impossible to live there. They are more often found in the southern regions of the Arctic Ocean, on the coasts of continents and on islands.

Back forward

Attention! Slide previews are for informational purposes only and may not represent all the features of the presentation. If you are interested this work, please download the full version.

Goals:

• to form an idea and characterize the flora and fauna of the Arctic desert zone;
• intensify lexicon when meeting new words (cluster, squirrel, rookery, hollow);
• develop cognitive activity based on analysis and synthesis operations when working with illustrations;
• continue to develop practical skills in working with illustrations and maps of natural areas;
• correct figurative memory based on memorization tasks;
• cultivate a holistic view of the world based on the interconnection of components in nature.
• cultivate an interest in nature.

Equipment:

• physical map of Russia;
• textbook "Geography of Russia 7th grade" M.; 2006, authors Lifanova T.M., Solomina E.N.;
• appendices to the textbook "Geography of Russia, grade 7", pp. 8-9, 10-11;
• animal illustrations - presentation;
• audio recording of the song "Lullaby of the Bear";
• words written on cards (cluster, squirrel, rookery, hollow);
• flannelograph with animal cards.

DURING THE CLASSES

1. Organizational moment.

Hello children! Please smile at me, today we will take an amazing journey into the kingdom of snow, ice and cold.

2. Updating knowledge.

2.1. Questions. "Shooting at standing people."

Open atlases and maps of natural areas, they will help you find the right answers. (After answering the question, the student sits down at his desk.)

1. Which one natural area have we started studying?

2. Tell me where this natural area is located?

3. Name the islands that belong to the Arctic desert zone.

4. Name the seas of the Arctic Ocean.

5.* Name the port of the Barents Sea.

6.* Name the port of the East Siberian Sea.

7.* Name the port of the White Sea.

8*. Why is the climate in the Arctic deserts cold?

9. What is the polar night?

10. What is the air temperature in winter in this area?

11. What is the temperature in summer in the arctic desert zone.

12. How long does the polar day last on the Novaya Zemlya islands?

3. Lesson topic.

You already know what harsh natural conditions are in the Arctic deserts, think about what animals can live there? Why? (Children's answers). So, the topic of today’s lesson (read from the board) is “Flora and fauna of the Arctic desert zone.”

3.1. Teacher's story with presentation and illustrations of animals.

The most famous inhabitant of the Arctic deserts is the polar bear. He lives on the islands of the Arctic Ocean. This is a large animal, with a body length of up to 3 meters, it is a predator. The bear runs fast, swims and dives well. It feeds on fish and sea animals. A female bear gives birth to one to three cubs. They walk with their mother until they learn to get their own food. Their breeding center is Wrangel Island. Find it on the maps.

Why do you think the polar bear is called that? It has white fur, which allows it to sneak up on prey unnoticed, the fur inside hollow- empty, like a paste rod, this feature of the fur allows it to absorb weak heat from the sun, the heat is transferred to the skin. What color do you think the bear's skin is? Black. Black color retains heat for a long time. There are days when the polar bear gets so hot that he dives into the ocean to cool off, but in fact the air temperature reaches 0 degrees! A bear has a thick layer of fat under its skin; the fat protects the body from the cold. Polar bears are listed in the Red Book of Russia.

Arctic foxes - sometimes called the white fox. Arctic fox fur is white. They, like bears, are predators.

Seals almost always live in water, leaving it only to breed and molt; the seal's body is covered with a thick layer of fat. Fat helps you swim and protects you from the cold. To rest, sea animals come ashore in large herds. Such clusters of pinnipeds are called rookery. Baby seals - Belek. They live in the Arctic seas different types seals, including fur seals.

The walrus is larger than a seal, its fur is brown, and adult males grow fangs. The walrus is a strong animal; in a fight with a polar bear, walruses often win. The walrus has front and back flippers.

In addition to mammals, many birds fly to the Arctic desert zone every summer and feed on fish. These are guillemots, eiders, loons, puffins, gulls and other birds. Birds sit on rocks and scream, flapping their wings. Such crowds called bird markets.

Northern birds do not build nests; they make bedding from dry grass. Eiders pluck the fluff on their chests and use it as a bed for their eggs. Eggs surrounded by this fluff are not afraid of frost. Eider down is called wonderful down, it is worth its weight in gold, its collection is prohibited. Eiders are listed in the Red Book.

What plants do you think grow in the Arctic desert zone?

There is little land in the Arctic. The soil on the islands is very poor. In such harsh conditions, only mosses and lichens, and a few herbs, can grow. Algae grows abundantly in the ocean and at the bottom of the northern seas, because the water under the ice layer is warmer than on the surface and has a constant temperature.

3.2. Working with new words.

What is a gathering, a rookery? Who is this squirrel? What does the word hollow mean? Explanation of words by the teacher with involvement in the correct spelling of these words.

3.3. Fizminutka - musical pause.

To the tune of "Bear's Lullaby".

3.4. Working with a contour map - flannelgraph...

From a group of pictures of animals you need to select animals of the Arctic deserts and attach them to the correct place on the contour map.

3.5. Working with the textbook.

Find answers to the questions in the text on pages 41-44.

*1. How marine animals adapt to life in the northern seas.

2. What is a "bird market"?

3. Why do birds fly to the Arctic only in summer?

4. Who is a polar bear?

3.6. Working with a notebook.*

Write down the topic, names of animals.

3.7 Individual work.

Individual cards.

• Olya, Christina - Write a story.
• Igor, German, Sasha - crosswords.
• Petya, Roma, Edik, Arthur, Sasha - The fourth odd one.

4. Lesson summary.

What is the topic of the lesson?

Now I will read you a story, there are mistakes hidden in the story, you try to find them. Whoever finds it raises their hands. Funny story.

A kangaroo mother gave birth to a son, and the mother decided to show the baby the world. She galloped to the Arctic. Looks in front of her seal walks on its hind legs. Hot was really + 27 degrees and mother kangaroo hid under poplar shadow. And then she is met by a polar bear with a bear cub, the bear invited new guests to her den - in hollow in an old tree, there the bear treated them freshly cut grass And dumplings. Night has come and they all went to bed together. A in the morning mother kangaroo found a big one tall palm tree with bananas and picked them for the kids. Time passed, the kangaroos decided to return home, they said goodbye to their new friends and galloped home.

5. Homework.

1. Open your diaries, write down your homework assignment: read textbook pages No. 41-44. Be able to answer questions.

2. Make up a fairy tale about any animal in the Arctic desert zone.

6. Working with diaries.

Lesson grades.

Crossword. "Plants and Animals of the Arctic".

1. A large sea animal that has tusk fangs.
2. Numerous underwater plants.
3. Dangerous predator of the Arctic desert zone.
4. Sea of ​​the Arctic Ocean.
5. Arctic sea animal.

The fourth one is extra.

• Mosses, birch, lichens, algae.
• Polar bear, seal, panda, walrus.
• Guillemot, loon, eider, parrot.
• Bird market, seal rookery, bird market, polar bear family.

In preparation for the lesson, I used the “Workbook on Physical Geography of Russia 7”, T.M. Lifanova, publishing house "Prosveshchenie" 2001.