Antarctica: nature. Fauna and flora of Antarctica

I like animals a lot! I myself had everything: fish, a cat, a guinea pig, a chinchilla and even a parrot! Moreover, it’s not only domesticated animals that cause me delight and tenderness. For example, I simply adore the penguins that live in the snow-white expanses of Antarctica! I’ll tell you who else lives in such harsh conditions.

Terrestrial animals of Antarctica

There are not many species of birds here. This is due to natural conditions. In this area you can find:

Aquatic animals of Antarctica

The local fish are truly amazing! They have adapted to life in icy water. The local waters are densely populated with zooplankton. It serves as the main food for larger animals: fur seals, seals and whales. There are also small dolphins, which are also called sea cows.

Blue whales live in Antarctica. They are lured here by the abundance of shrimp. Just imagine, a whale can reach 40 meters in length! A heart can weigh a ton! Compared to a person, this animal is a whole mountain!

On the coast you can spot other giants – leopard seals. This is a special type of seal. It mainly feeds on krill, but in the fall, in order to diversify its diet, it hunts large animals.

Elephant seals also live here.

These animals are amazing because they have much more fat than meat! Thanks to this, they feel quite comfortable at critically low temperatures.

On July 4, 1819, the sloops Mirny and Vostok set off from Kronstadt for a circumnavigation of the world. The result of the expedition was the discovery of Antarctica. We decided to compile a list of the most interesting animals inhabiting this continent.

Not only the southernmost animal, but also one of the cutest animals. You can admire the cute faces of these big-eyed mammals for hours. The seal inhabits the entire coast of Antarctica, its population is estimated at about a million individuals. This animal is an excellent diver. An adult seal can hold its breath for an hour and is able to obtain food at a depth of 800 meters.

Blue, or Blue, whale , living in the waters of the Southern Ocean, is not just one of the animals that has managed to adapt to life in harsh conditions. This is, first of all, the most gigantic of the animals that inhabit our planet now and have ever inhabited. Its length can reach four tens of meters, and its weight often exceeds 150 tons. Compared to humans, this animal looks like a giant floating mountain. A whale's heart alone can weigh more than a ton. Unfortunately, as a result of uncontrolled whaling, a huge number of blue whales were destroyed, but now their numbers are slowly recovering.

This is one of the largest birds on planet Earth. These animals settle behind cliffs and rocks, living in huge colonies, which often number up to ten thousand individuals. Also interesting are the habits of penguins, their method of obtaining food and how they raise their offspring. They are also one of the most frost-resistant animals on planet earth - in their breeding areas the temperature most often does not rise above minus fifty degrees.

The bird of prey, which can feed on fish, sometimes preys on penguins and storm petrels. This bird is an excellent traveler. During the migration season, it is able, using the power of the wind, to fly around the globe.

This is an Antarctic gull, it flies just as well, is just as tenacious and even more resilient. The bird is able to live and reproduce at low temperatures. Mainly it feeds on fish, but usually takes fish away from less agile birds.

This is one of the largest subspecies of seal. Adults reach three meters in size and weigh up to two and a half tons. An interesting fact is that there is much more fat in this animal than meat, which is not surprising, considering the temperatures at which it needs to exist. Elephant seals are known for their mating displays and fights, during which they can seriously injure each other.

- a dangerous predator that lives in the waters of the Southern Ocean, during winter it swims to the coast of Australia. Its thin layer of fat and developed muscles allow this animal to be a predator. Thanks to this, it is quite mobile and can kill seals, large fish, and penguins. The leopard seal does not disdain the meat of killed whales. But you have to pay for thin subcutaneous fat with less resistance to cold.

Antarctica is a continent located in the very south of the Earth, covered with a layer of ice 2000 - 2500 meters thick.

Antarctica has some distinctive features from other continents, namely:

• the cold in which all living things adapt;
• dry air, precipitation is extremely rare.

One of the main land inhabitants are penguins. There are 4 species of penguins in Antarctica. The largest penguin population is the emperor penguin.

Emperor penguins are the best at adapting to extremely cold temperatures and strong winds because they have several layers of warm feathers that help overcome icy winds and keep them warm.

The short beak and thick layer of blubber prevent heat loss and help penguins stay warm.

Some worms, lower crustaceans and wingless insects are found in Antarctica. The most popular birds are the white plover and the pipit.

Skuas are impudent and rather nasty birds, because they are always trying to steal something. The absence of wings in wingless insects is explained by the fact that strong winds constantly blow on the continent.

You can also find blue whales on the shores of Antarctica, which are attracted by the abundance of shrimp. The southern continent has the most seals.

Leopard seals and elephant seals live on the coast. Seals inhabit the entire coast of Antarctica.

Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth. All living beings adapt and learn to survive in difficult conditions. Despite such a harsh climate, life has survived on the continent.

Antarctica is the icy continent of our planet. But despite the extremely low temperatures, there is a very extensive fauna here. It would seem that who or what can survive in the endless snowy expanses, but the animals feel comfortable there. They build their homes, get food and fight for territory with rivals. Let's talk in more detail about what kind of fauna Antarctica hides. The animals here are very diverse and unusual, causing surprise and sometimes even fear.

Everyone should know

Too harsh winds and low temperatures are not suitable for all animals, so everything is stable in Antarctica. New species do not appear here, nor do they disappear, because poaching is practically not developed here. The waters are very rich in phytoplankton, which provide plant food for almost the entire continent. Birds flock here and fish swim in search of prey. Krill, small herbivores, arrive here every year. They drift with the waters and become food for squids, octopuses and whales. A separate conversation concerns the birds of Antarctica. There are very, very many of them here. Some become food themselves, while others are ideal hunters. Let's look at what kind of fauna Antarctica is famous for. Animals, as noted above, are different. Let's start with the most numerous.

Adelie Penguins

It is hardly possible to count the number of these birds that are found here. Every year they return to their old breeding site. These are unique birds, especially if you look at their appearance, which has been formed over many years of survival in difficult conditions. Since they spend most of their time in water, their powerful paws eventually became flippers, the body took on a streamlined shape, and the wings turned into fins. In water, Adelie penguins reach speeds of up to 15 km/h. They often jump quite high out of the water. Living conditions have made these birds terrestrial; from a distance they look more like clumsy, well-fed people dressed in a suit. But the animal world of Antarctica does not end there; let’s look at other inhabitants for whom this place has become their home.

Emperor penguin

Of the penguin family, this representative is considered the largest and heaviest. Its average height is 122 centimeters, and the maximum recorded is 130 cm. Weight ranges from 22 to 45 kilograms. Just like the king penguin, this one belongs to the emperor species and bears the same name. It is interesting that these birds have a very developed pectoral muscle. Of all the representatives of its genus, the emperor penguin has climbed far to the south. About 300,000 individuals live on the ice floes of Antarctica. Birds immigrate to the mainland only to mate and hatch eggs. The daily diet includes squid, krill and fish. Emperor penguins hunt in groups. Small prey is eaten while still in the water, while larger prey is cut up on land.

Antarctica: animals of the seal family

The Ross seal is the only representative of its species. Its key feature is that it is significantly smaller than its relatives. Of course, the animal world of Antarctica is still little explored, and the Ross seal - even less. This is due to the fact that it lives in places that are difficult for humans to reach. In addition, it is considered a very rare species, and for researchers it will be a real happiness to meet this animal. The animal's body length usually does not exceed 2 meters, and its weight is 200 kilograms. The Ross seal has a large amount of subcutaneous fat and a thick neck into which it can almost completely retract its head.

What animal lives in Antarctica?

One of the most majestic, huge and rare creatures of the continent is the blue or blue whale. Today, the number of this representative of cetaceans is gradually increasing, but a few years ago it was considered very rare. This was due to the fact that Chinese poachers destroyed most of the population. You will probably be surprised to learn that the length of this giant can reach 40 meters and weight more than 150 tons. The heart of a blue whale alone weighs about a ton. We can say with great confidence which animals in Antarctica are the most amazing - blue whales. Currently, they are considered the largest inhabitants of planet Earth.

Conclusion

For many birds and animals, the only safe place on the planet is Antarctica. Animals here mostly exist in large populations. Almost no one ever catches them. However, there is a need to continually monitor whaling and other types of poaching. Petrels, penguins, Weddell seals and other animals need human protection. It is safe to say that the fauna of Antarctica is unique in its own way; there are representatives of penguins and seals that do not live anywhere else. Occasionally, birds and animals for which this climate is not normal swim or fly in here. After exploring the new area a little, most return to their home.

I know first-hand what frost is, because since birth I have lived in an area equivalent to the far north. Our summer is short, but there are many warm days. Winter is long, often the air temperature drops to -50 degrees. People and animals of our region are accustomed to living in such climatic conditions.

I was interested in the question: is it possible to live at the poles because it is always cold there? Who lives in the cold and how? What are the differences between the Arctic and Antarctic?

Lately there has been frequent talk about climate warming due to the unfavorable environmental situation. I imagine that life at the poles may change as a result. Whether this is so I will find out as a result of the work done.

After processing the questionnaires, I found out that 72% of respondents do not know where the Arctic is and where the Antarctic is. 50% believe that the air temperature does not drop below -50 degrees. 64% of respondents do not know at which pole polar bears live. When asked whether polar bears threaten penguins, most respondents answered “yes.” This suggests that students do not know that polar bears and penguins live at different poles.

First I would like to get acquainted with the coldest points of our planet.

Antarctic.

This is the south polar region of the earth, opposite the Arctic. In addition to the mainland of Antarctica, it includes the adjacent parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans and islands. This area is now called the Southern Arctic Ocean.

Fauna and flora of Antarctica.

There are no forests or rivers in Antarctica, there are no geographical zones except one - ice. It is a land of mountains and glaciers, covered in dazzling white snow and ice. This is the windiest place on Earth. Life in Antarctica exists in very harsh conditions. On ice-free land areas, only lichens and mosses, microalgae and bacteria are found. However, in some places off the coast there are colonies of penguins, amazing Antarctic birds. The emperor penguin is one of six species of penguins that breed in Antarctica.

Dense plumage and a thick layer of fat help penguins survive in harsh climates. Frosts in Antarctica often reach -80 degrees. Penguins feed on fish and boldly rush into the icy water after it. Their wings are short, like fins, and in the water penguins move so quickly that it seems as if they are flying underwater. But these birds do not know how to fly. Penguins raise their chicks on the shores of frozen seas at the South Pole.

In the Southern Ocean, the fauna is much richer: whales, seals, sea lions and leopards, various types of fish, including the well-known ice fish. A particular wealth of Antarctic waters is krill, the smallest crustacean. There is an unusual amount of this valuable food product.

There are seabirds: snow petrels, skuas.

January 28, 1820 is the day of the discovery of Antarctica, the sixth continent of the Earth. But only after almost 80 years did people land here - 10 people. These people for the first time ventured to spend the Antarctic winter. And although it turned out to be difficult, it was established that it is possible to live in Antarctica.

Antarctica is a continent with no state borders. Antarctica belongs to science.

This is interesting!

People have learned a lot about the only uninhabited continent on the planet. A relief hidden under the ice was revealed, and based on its geological structure it was established that, together with Australia, Africa, and South America, Antarctica was once part of one huge continent - Gondwana. It began to disintegrate 50 - 60 million years ago, and then there was a gap between Antarctica and Australia. The cold waters of the current poured into the resulting strait, now surrounding the continent with a continuous belt. About 30 million years ago, as a result of cooling, glaciers began to form.

The cold current formed a powerful barrier that prevented the penetration of heat to the ice-bound continent.

In Antarctica, 520 km from the south pole, fossilized skull bones and vertebrae of some very ancient animal were found. Research has shown that these remains belong to an ancient crocodile that lived on the sixth continent about 200 million years ago. Scientists also discovered a lake in the depths of Antarctica. Perhaps it preserved living creatures that lived on Earth millions of years ago. The find once again confirms the hypothesis that in ancient times the southern continent was covered with tropical forests and swamps.

– the northern polar region of the Earth is almost entirely occupied by the ocean, covered with perennial ice. Researchers have thoroughly studied the Arctic - an area of ​​the globe that includes the outskirts of the continents of Eurasia and North America and almost the entire Arctic Ocean with many islands. The southern border of the Arctic coincides with the southern border of the tundra zone. The ice-free areas of the islands are dominated by a “polar desert”.

Flora and fauna of the Arctic.

Vegetation in the Arctic is very sparse: mainly lichens. But there are also flowers: polar poppies, buttercups, partridge grass - and even trees: dwarf willow and birch. But they rise above the ground only a few centimeters. Who lives there, in the land of eternal cold?

The fauna of the Arctic is unique. It consists of animals that are not found anywhere else. Polar Bear – The light skin of the polar bear makes it almost invisible in the snow of the Arctic. These are the largest bears in the world. Polar bears are almost twice the height of an adult human, and he weighs 10 times more. Polar bears do not live in one place. In search of food, they roam through deep snow and drifting ice. They feed on a variety of foods: seals, birds, fish and plants. Adult bears prefer to live alone. Only cubs stay with their mother while they are still small. Polar bears do not freeze in the cold. Thick, shaggy fur and a thick layer of subcutaneous fat help them keep warm. Only the nose and paw pads of polar bears are not covered with hair.

Various types of seals live among the ice of the Arctic Ocean. They are warmed by a thick layer of subcutaneous fat. Seals have fins instead of paws. They are fast swimmers and fish for squid and octopus. Seals can hear each other underwater at incredible distances.

Walruses are similar to seals, but much larger. The body length of males reaches 4 m. A characteristic feature of walruses is the presence of tusks, with the help of which walruses furrow the seabed and break shells of mollusks. The front and rear flippers are developed approximately equally and are used when moving on land. In water, animals move mainly by bending the back of their body, but they can also paddle with their front flippers.

Arctic fox, polar wolf, pied lemming, and reindeer live in the tundra.

Huge colonies of birds settle on the steep cliffs of the Arctic islands. The entire huge feathered population is located on the rock in a certain order. Each species takes its place: guillemots, guillemots, fulmars, gulls. Skuas are located above all.

There are many different minerals in the Arctic: oil, gas, coal, non-ferrous metals, diamonds. Sea, air and land transport routes pass through the Arctic. Large modern cities were built beyond the Arctic Circle: Murmansk, Kirovsk, Norilsk, Magadan.

The indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic (Laplanders, Inuits or also called Eskimos, Greenlanders, Yukaghirs) know how to live in harmony with nature. Their traditional activities - hunting, fishing, reindeer herding - are being revived and developed.

As a result of the work done, it is possible to compile a table in which all the differences between the Arctic and Antarctic will be visible.

Pole difference table

Antarctica Arctic

Continent Antarctica + parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Region of the globe, including the outskirts of the Eurasian continents and oceans and islands. North America and almost the entire Arctic Ocean with many islands (except the coastal islands of Norway). The southern border of the Arctic coincides with the border of the tundra zone.

52.5 million sq. km. 21 million sq. km.

Animal world

Penguins, whales, seals. Polar bears, walruses, belugas, narwhals, various types of seals, musk oxen (Greenland), reindeer.

Indigenous people

no Laplanders, Eskimos, Greenlanders, Yukaghirs

Settlements

Scientific stations. Murmansk, Norilsk, Magadan.

Minerals

Not discovered yet. Oil, gas, coal, non-ferrous metals, diamonds.

Vegetable world

Lichens, mosses, microalgae, bacteria. Mostly lichens, less often flowers (poppy, buttercup, partridge grass), trees (dwarf willow and birch).

Why is ice melting around the poles?

In the 1990s, the ice shelf began to melt in parts of Antarctica. There is an opinion that this is due to a general increase in average temperature as a result of an unfavorable environmental situation.

If all the Antarctic ice suddenly melts and turns into water, then the level of the world's oceans will rise by 60 m and flood the coastal areas with the largest port cities located on them. The colossal source of cold on the planet will disappear, and a profound restructuring of the entire nature of the earth will occur. The average temperature of the planet without icy Antarctica would be about 8 degrees higher. Antarctica takes a lot of heat from the Earth, but this saves the Earth from overheating.

In recent years, widespread concern has been caused by a decrease in the concentration of ozone, a gas that protects the earth from the dangerous ultraviolet rays of the Sun, discovered over Antarctica. The “ozone hole” is the result of ongoing atmospheric pollution from industrial waste. To study this and other phenomena, special international expeditions of scientists travel to Antarctica.

Scientists believe that global warming is caused by an increase in the amount of certain gases that create the greenhouse effect in the earth's atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases trap heat around the Earth, which is necessary for life to exist on it. But some human activities pollute the air, and the amount of these gases in the air increases. They trap more ash than before, making the Earth warmer.

To avoid an environmental disaster, people must invent other ways to obtain energy instead of burning oil, coal and other types of fuel.

Conclusion

As a result of the work done, I collected information that helped me answer the questions posed. I learned everything about the Arctic and Antarctic, and as a result of the knowledge I gained, I compiled a table of the differences between the poles. I believe that the table will help not only children, but also adults in mastering this topic. Since during the survey, many adults confused the data about the poles.

While working on the topic, I learned to select from the scientific literature the material that I need, to compose and process questionnaires.

I realized that people should seriously address the environmental problem, since global warming could lead to irreparable changes on the planet. Not only adults, but also children can deal with environmental problems.

I think this topic could be my next research work.

Speech to school students - presentation of my work;

Organization of a drawing competition on an environmental theme;

Repeated questioning to find out whether my information helped children in mastering knowledge on this topic.

I think that my work will be useful for primary school students and teachers (for preparing for lessons).