Tundra is typically an Arctic environment, although it also occurs in Antarctic regions characterized by low-lying vegetation and restricted tree growth as a result of climate conditions. Tundra is also created by soil conditions like permafrost, although some regions do not include this soil type. The low temperatures restrict the development of local ecology and the environment is usually comprised of specialist species of microbes, animals and plants. A good example of the distinction between tundra and other environments in those regions is Siberia, in which tundra and heavily forested areas defind separate environments.