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How do cushion plants survive on windswept tundra ridges?

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Rolling tundra in Alaska with red, yellow, and green fall foliage, set against rugged mountains with patches of grass and exposed rock. — Tundra Alaskan mountain and tundra vegetation in the fall.

Cushion plants are the dominant vegetation on windswept tundra ridges, where they have adapted to survive harsh, exposed conditions.1

While most tundra plants rely on snow cover to protect them from extreme cold and drying winter winds, cushion plants thrive in areas where strong winds typically remove snow. Their survival is linked to their unique growth form, which allows them to exist in localized microclimates near the ground surface. By growing in dense, low-lying mats, these plants are able to trap heat and moisture, shielding themselves from the desiccating effects of the wind and the freezing temperatures of the open ridge.12

Because these exposed ridges are the first areas to lose their snow cover in the summer, cushion plants are also among the first to initiate growth, taking advantage of the brief, warmer periods available in the tundra ecosystem.12