The Arctic is a special world. The Arctic Ocean is covered by white sea ice and its margins
are surrounded by bare terrestrial regions known as tundra. Tundra is a cold and dry
environment without trees but even in the absence of trees tundra plants such as dwarf shrubs
grasses herbs and moss support the harsh environment by providing sustenance and shelter. This
book introduces representative arctic plants and their function in Svalbard revealing the
unique tundra ecosystem and discussing the direct and indirect effects of climate change in
the Arctic.
