The term Fennoscandia is used to denote Finland and the Scandinavian peninsula, which comprises Norway and Sweden and sometimes also neigh bouring districts of the USSR. The western part of the Scandinavian peninsula is mountainous with peaks mostly within the range 1000-2000 m above sea level. Permafrost is not usually found in the southern districts of these alpine zones, but occurs in the northeastern part of Fennoscandia in mire, even at a low elevation. If tundra is defined as areas of permafrost, only very limited regions of Fennoscandia could be included. However, in the present volumes, we have used the word tundra in a broader sense as approximating areas with mean annual air 0 temperature below 0 C at meteorological standard height (1.5-2 m); it is often used in this sense in North America. This usage allows all alpine zones to be included, along with the subalpine birch zone and certain open subarctic woodland ("forest tundra" in Russian usage).

Animals are important components of any ecosystem and it is impossible to describe structure and funCtioning of the Fennoscandian tundra ecosystems without including this part of the system. However, the strong diversity between functionally highly different fauna groups makes it impossible to study all groups in great detail with the funds and expertise available in Fennoscandia. Relatively few productivity studies were carried out on animals in Fenno scandian tundra regions before the IBP projects started in 1969-1970. Within IBP, more fauna groups have been investigated in the Norwegian tundra project than in the other countries, due to better financial support. Even in Norway, however, only a limited number of invertebrate and vertebrate taxons is studied. General lack of information on the same animals in various parts of the Fennoscandian tundra makes it more difficult to present structural and functional comparisons of fauna for the whole region than in plants and microorganisms (see Part 1 of Fennoscandian Tundra Ecosystems). Brief surveys on faunal problems within the area are given in the introduction to the animal section, and general aspects are also discussed in the four first papers of the volume.

Animals are important components of any ecosystem and it is impossible to describe structure and funCtioning of the Fennoscandian tundra ecosystems without including this part of the system. However, the strong diversity between functionally highly different fauna groups makes it impossible to study all groups in great detail with the funds and expertise available in Fennoscandia. Relatively few productivity studies were carried out on animals in Fenno scandian tundra regions before the IBP projects started in 1969-1970. Within IBP, more fauna groups have been investigated in the Norwegian tundra project than in the other countries, due to better financial support. Even in Norway, however, only a limited number of invertebrate and vertebrate taxons is studied. General lack of information on the same animals in various parts of the Fennoscandian tundra makes it more difficult to present structural and functional comparisons of fauna for the whole region than in plants and microorganisms (see Part 1 of Fennoscandian Tundra Ecosystems). Brief surveys on faunal problems within the area are given in the introduction to the animal section, and general aspects are also discussed in the four first papers of the volume.

Site description. Abiotic variables. Primary producers. Decomposes. Nutrient cycling. Animals. Conservation and recreation in tundra ecosystems. Models for integration and prediction.

Hardbound. This book describes the structure and function of life and the environment in polar tundra and tundra-like terrestrial alpine ecosystems in various parts of the world. Polar and alpine tundra have many similarities, but also differences. Particularly when moving towards the equator, high mountains show strong differences from polar regions. However, the similarities justify the presentation of polar and alpine tundra in the same volume. This volume is unique in its comprehensive coverage on all aspects of polar and alpine tundra. The extensive Russian chapters contain information previously not available in the west.