In the global classification of vegetation biomes, which of the following terms describes the cold, treeless high-latitude biome characterized by permafrost, mosses, lichens, and stunted dwarf shrubs?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The tundra is a high-latitude and high-altitude biome where severe cold, low precipitation, and permanently frozen subsurface soil known as permafrost prevent the growth of trees, sustaining only specialized vegetation such as lichens, mosses, and sedges. The taiga, or boreal forest, consists of coniferous evergreen woodlands situated just south of the tundra. Steppes represent temperate grasslands, while savannas are tropical grasslands with scattered trees. Polar biome sensitivity serves as an important indicator of global climate change.