Features of the nature of Antarctica. Flora and fauna of Antarctica Features of nature in Antarctica

The flora of Antarctica is characterized by the presence of only two species of flowering plants: Colobanthus quitensis from the Carnation family and Antarctic meadowsweet (Deschampsia antarctica) from the Poaceae family. Mosses, lichens, microscopic fungi, and algae are also found in Antarctica. The poverty of the local flora is associated with harsh weather conditions - all of Antarctica is located in the zone of Antarctic deserts. The most favorable place for plants to grow is the Antarctic Peninsula and its adjacent islands. The northern part of this peninsula is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Plants can mainly be found on mountain slopes, well warmed by the sun. Colobanthus and meadow grass grow directly on the rocks, lichens grow in narrow crevices. Mosses are found only in western Antarctica.

The Antarctic fauna is represented by individual species of invertebrates, birds, and mammals. Currently, at least 70 species of invertebrates have been discovered in Antarctica, and four species of penguins nest. The remains of several species of dinosaurs have been found in the polar region. Only 2% of the Antarctic mainland remains free of glaciers and snow. Most of the fauna of Antarctica is represented in several “arenas of life”: coastal islands and ice, coastal oases on the mainland (for example, the “Banger Oasis”), the nunatak arena (Mount Amundsen near Mirny, Mount Nansen on Victoria Land, etc.) and the glacial arena shield Animals are most common in the coastal zone (only here seals and penguins are found). There are also endemics here, for example, the black bell mosquito Belgica antarctica.

The Weddell Sea is a marginal sea of ​​the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, off the coast of West Antarctica, between the Antarctic Peninsula in the west and Coats Land in the east. Area 2920 thousand km², prevailing depths 3 thousand m, maximum depths up to 6820 m (in the northern part); the southern and southwestern parts are shallow (up to 500 m). In winter, in the southern part of the sea the water cools to −1.8 °C. The southern coast is the edge of the Ronne and Filchner ice shelves, from which giant icebergs regularly break off every 20-25 years. Most of the year it is covered with drifting ice more than 2 m thick and numerous icebergs. There are whales and seals. Conditions for navigation are extremely unfavorable, and ice compression often occurs. Discovered in 1823 by the English expedition of J. Weddell, who named it the Sea of ​​George IV; in 1900 the sea was renamed in honor of its discoverer.

The Somov Sea is a marginal sea of ​​the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean, adjacent to Victoria Land (East Antarctica). It is located between 150 and 170° east, between the Ross and D'Urville seas. Coordinates of the central part of the sea: 60°00" S and 162°00" E. The eastern part of the sea is mainly located within the continental shallows, the western part has depths of up to 3000 m. It has an area of ​​1150 thousand km². To the north lie the Balleny Islands. On the shore of the Somov Sea there is the Russian Antarctic scientific station Leningradskaya. Named in honor of the leader of the first Soviet Antarctic expedition, Mikhail Somov. Almost the entire Somov Sea is located within the southern polar circle. Therefore, it is covered with ice most of the year. Only for a few months does the ice cover lose its strength, the continental glacier cracks and sends huge blocks of ice and icebergs floating.

The Cooperation Sea is a sea in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. Area 258 thousand km² In the southern part the depth is less than 500 m, in the northern over 3000 m. Covered with drifting ice, there are many icebergs, including very large ones. On the seashore are the Australian scientific stations Mawson and Davis. The ice coasts in large areas are very mobile; as a result of the breakaway of a giant iceberg from the Amery Ice Shelf in 1964, the coast in Prudhoe Bay retreated by 60-70 km for more than 160 km. Named in 1962 by participants of Soviet Antarctic expeditions to commemorate the joint research work of expeditions of various countries in Antarctica.

General characteristics of the nature of the continent

Note 1

Today everyone is well aware that the coldest continent on the planet is Antarctica, where the surface cools during the long polar night. In summer, ice and snow reflect $90$% of solar radiation, so the average daily temperature remains at around $30$ degrees. The lowest temperature is typical for Vostok station. Here is the cold pole of the Southern Hemisphere with a temperature of $89.2 degrees. It is much warmer on the coast - about $0$ degrees in summer, and winter frosts are quite moderate - $10$, -$25$ degrees. The formation of a baric maximum in the center of the continent is associated with cooling. This is an area of ​​high atmospheric pressure, from which constant katabatic winds blow towards the ocean. With a distance from the coast in the range of $600$-$800$ km, they are especially strong. The average annual precipitation on the mainland is $200$ mm, and closer to the center of the continent its amount decreases to several tens of millimeters. Under such climatic conditions, the Antarctic desert, devoid of flora and fauna, formed in the main part of Antarctica. Oases can be considered as centers of life on an icy continent.

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The flora of Antarctica is represented by lower plants - $80$ species of mosses, $800$ species of lichens and microscopic algae. Bacteria were discovered in the snow near the Pole of Cold. The fauna is connected to the seas washing the mainland, where in summer dozens of bird species nest on the coastal cliffs - albatrosses, skuas, petrels, penguins. The most characteristic of the mainland are Adélie penguins and large emperor penguins. They can make long journeys deep into the continent. Sperm whales, killer whales, seals, and whales are inhabitants of coastal waters, which are rich in plankton, especially small crustaceans (krill). Previously, Antarctic waters were a hunting area for cetaceans, pinnipeds, and krill, but today, due to severe depletion, many species of animals are under protection.

Antarctica itself and the parts of other continents adjacent to it stand out as a special floristic kingdom. In the Mesozoic era, there was a large center of flora formation here. Changing climatic conditions led to its impoverishment and migration to more favorable northern regions.

Flora

The peculiarities of the nature of Antarctica are explained by the harsh climatic conditions, and the flora of the continent is extremely poor. Algae are numerous, of which there are about 700 species. The plains and coast of the mainland are covered with mosses and lichens in summer.

But there are $2$ species of flowering plants on this harsh land - Colobanthus Quito, belonging to the carnation family, and Antarctic meadow grass. Colobanthus quito is a low, herbaceous, cushion-shaped plant. Its flowers are very small, pale yellow and white. An adult plant has a height of no more than $5 centimeters and belongs to the cereal family. Both plants grow only on well-warmed rocky soil, despite the fact that they are adapted to harsh conditions and can withstand frost. Their growing season is short.

Blue-green algae, along with bacteria and mosses, cover the bottom of fresh water bodies, forming a dense mucous crust. Algae are among the oldest plants in Antarctica, the fossilized remains of which have been discovered on mineral surfaces. The entire surface of reservoirs in summer is covered with these plants, but they can even settle on melted snow. When in large concentrations, they form bright lawns. These microscopic algae are associated with the illusion of red snowfall, when strong gusts of wind lift them from the surface, lift them into the air and mix them with grains of snow.

In the Antarctic seas, there are giant algae with a length of $150$-$300$ m. They have the common name mactocytas, which means “large-celled”. Indeed, compared to other plants, algae have enormous cell sizes. Colonies of these amazing plants form real underwater forests.

The second most widespread representative of the flora of Antarctica after algae are lichens. These plants, which are a symbiosis of fungi and algae, belong to the lower class. Some representatives of this plant are more than $10$ thousand years old. Managing to grow among the rocks and catching the rare rays of the sun, plants carry out the process of photosynthesis.

The colors of lichens are surprisingly varied - light green, orange, yellow, inconspicuous gray and even completely black. Lichens with black pigment are generally a rare phenomenon on the planet, but in Antarctica they are most common. This is explained by the fact that due to its dark color, the plant absorbs the maximum amount of sunlight and heat. The plant clings to the rocks so tightly that it is impossible to scrape it off with your hands, which is why they are called “scale lichens.” Lichens can also be deciduous, growing like miniature bushes. In the Antarctic climate, lichen growth takes a very long time because it is suppressed by low temperatures and strong winds.

Note 2

The poor species composition of the flora of Antarctica is characterized by endemicity due to the long-term isolation of the development of the continent, as a result of which a few plants have adapted to the eternal cold.

Animal world

The natural features of Antarctica have left their mark on the continent’s fauna, which can only live in places where there is vegetation. The fauna of the continent is conventionally divided into independent groups - aquatic and terrestrial, and it is important to note that there are no animals permanently living on land in Antarctica.

The terrestrial fauna is very poor; some worms, primitive crustaceans and wingless insects are found. In principle, insects do not need wings here - due to the constantly blowing strong winds, they simply cannot rise into the air. On the island land, scientists found several species of beetles, spiders, and one species of flightless butterfly. Of the birds living on land, the following are known: the snowy plover, the pipit, and one species of duck that nests on the island of South Georgia. The indigenous inhabitants of Antarctica include Adélie penguins, who spend most of their time in the ocean because the water temperature is higher. They come to the surface only for nesting. Males are very sensitive to the choice of a partner. Having chosen a female, the male brings her a pebble, chosen especially for her. By accepting this gift, the female becomes a companion for life. The chicks gather in a “nursery”, where they spend $2$ a month, and after this period they independently obtain their own food. A penguin's daily diet is $2$ kg of food. Penguins are not the only animals on the mainland.

The largest mammals, cetaceans, live in the seas surrounding Antarctica. They are divided into baleen and toothed whales. Baleen whales are especially well studied because they are the main target of whaling. This subgroup includes blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, and true whales. The largest of the whales, the blue whale (vomit), together with the fin whale, has the greatest commercial importance. They have an average length of $26m, but the longest whale killed in Antarctic waters reached $35m.

Large whales typically weigh up to $160 tons and produce $20 tons of net blubber. The food for these giants are small crustaceans that live in abundance in cold waters. Toothed whales include sperm whales, bottlenose whales, and killer whales, which are very dangerous predators. With the help of its sharp dorsal fin, the killer whale can inflict dangerous injuries even on a whale. Killer whales hunt in packs and do it successfully and sophisticatedly, attacking fur seals, seals, sperm whales, dolphins, and sea lions.

Killer whales have their own approach to each “victim”; for example, when hunting seals, they use ledges of the seabed as an ambush. In a group they dive under an ice floe when hunting penguins in order to immediately knock several individuals into the water. Large whales are hunted mainly by males, at the same time pouncing on the prey and preventing it from rising to the surface of the water. By attacking a sperm whale, killer whales, on the contrary, do not allow it to go into the depths of the sea. These animals are characterized by a developed social structure. They have so-called maternal groups, which include a mother with her calf, her adult sons and several other families headed by relatives of the main killer whale. Such a social group may include up to $20$ individuals who are sufficiently attached to each other. Each pack has its own dialect.

It is interesting that killer whales take care of crippled or old relatives, and their relationships within the pack are more than friendly.

The most common true seals include the Weddell seal, whose length can reach $3$ m. Its main location is a strip of stationary ice. Other species of seals are found on floating ice. These include the crabeater seal and the leopard seal, which has a peculiar spotted skin. Of the seals, the largest is the elephant seal, which has already been largely exterminated. On the Antarctic outskirts, the eared seal is found, so named because of its well-defined mane.

The bird world of Antarctica is unique. In summer, petrels, gulls, cormorants, and albatrosses fly here, with a wingspan of up to $3.5 m.

Note 3

In Antarctica, the thesis of evolution – “Survival of the fittest” – is fully confirmed. For the inhabitants of the mainland, life is a daily struggle with low temperatures, a struggle for the most convenient place to obtain food. Strong and formidable to their enemies, the animals of Antarctica are caring and friendly in their pack or colony. The continent's fauna is dangerous and harsh, but magnificent in its own way.

Antarctica is the coldest continent with harsh climatic conditions. The flora and fauna of Antarctica are not as rich as on other continents. However, some species of animals and plants have adapted to these seemingly unbearable conditions for life.

Natural areas: general information

The number of animals and plants in Antarctica is much smaller than on other continents. Most of Antarctica is covered with ice and is an Antarctic ice desert. And only on the outskirts of the continent in the warm season do lichens, mosses and algae grow on the ice-free territory.

Almost the entire animal world of Antarctica is adapted to life in the ocean. The waters are rich in plankton - a food source for cetaceans (blue whale, sperm whale, fin whale, killer whale), pinnipeds (seals, elephant seals), fish and birds. The few birds that can survive in Antarctica include penguins, gulls, and petrels. In winter, the seas freeze, and the animal world moves behind the edge of the ice receding from the shore.

Fauna of Antarctica

Most animals and birds living in Antarctica are migratory, since very rare species can live in such harsh conditions all year round. All animals on the continent can be divided into terrestrial and aquatic; there are no completely terrestrial animals here.

Antarctica is home to blue whales, the largest mammals on the planet. Their weight is more than 100 tons. In addition to them, the southern right whale, sei whale, fin whale, sperm whale, humpback whale and other representatives of cetaceans are found in Antarctica.

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Rice. 1. Blue whale.

One of the largest predators in Antarctica is the leopard seal. It got its name from the spots all over its body. This animal is practically omnivorous: it can eat any animal that it can kill.

Among the mammals there are also crabeater seals, elephant seals, and Weddall seals.

One of the main types of food for animals and birds of Antarctica is Antarctic krill. Krill are crustaceans that live in large groups and are one of the key species in the Antarctic ecosystem.

Birds include the Antarctic blue-eyed cormorant, white plover, snow petrel, and wandering albatross. The snow petrel is a pigeon-sized bird that is completely white but has black eyes and a beak. They feed on krill, which they catch from the sea.

Penguins are the symbol of Antarctica. The Emperor Penguin is the largest penguin in existence. Their average weight is 30 kg. It is able to survive in harsh climatic conditions, since its layer of subcutaneous fat reaches 3 cm.

The emperor penguin is endemic to Antarctica. That is, this type of penguin is not found anywhere except this continent.

Rice. 2. Emperor penguin.

Flora of Antarctica

Since the territory of Antarctica is almost entirely covered with ice, and the temperature rarely rises above 0 degrees, the flora and fauna of the continent are very scarce. On the outskirts of the mainland, where the snow finally melts in the warm months, you can see mosses, lichens and algae. There are really a lot of algae here - about 700 species, but there are only two flowering plants: colobanthus quito and Antarctic meadow grass. The first belongs to the clove family and reaches only 5 cm. The meadow can grow up to 20 cm, and it belongs to the Poaceae family.

Rice. 3. Antarctic meadow grass.

What have we learned?

From an article on geography, we briefly learned about the organic world of Antarctica: although it is not very diverse, it still exists. It is home to animals and plants that have adapted to the cold weather conditions of the mainland. Many animals spend only part of their time here, and the rest of the time they live in warmer climates. Famous animals of Antarctica are penguins, seals, petrels, and plants are colobanthus quito and arctic meadowweed.

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At the heart of Antarctica is the Antarctic Plate. The average height of the surface of the ice sheet is about 2040 m. That is why it can be considered the highest continent of the Earth. 90% of the volume of all fresh surface water on Earth is concentrated in the Antarctic ice sheet.

Under the weight of the ice sheet, the continental bed bent greatly. Some depressions lie 2.5 km below sea level. Mountain ranges under the glacial shell reach heights of 3000-4000 m above sea level. In West Antarctica, rocks come to the surface. In the northwestern part of the continent is the huge Antarctic Peninsula. It serves as a natural divide between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The archipelago of the South Shetland Islands stretches along it. The mountains stretching in this part of the continent, across the Antarctic Peninsula, divide Antarctica into Western and Eastern. Reaching its maximum thickness in East Antarctica, the ice sheet breaks off into a cliff towards the sea, forming ice shelves. The largest in the world among them is the Ross Glacier. The active volcano Erebus rises on one of the islands of the Ross Sea. The level of knowledge of Antarctica does not yet allow us to clearly give a reasonable assessment of its mineral resource potential. Mineral resources in Antarctica include coal, iron ore, gold, diamonds and non-ferrous metals, but they have not yet been sufficiently studied.

Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth. The average daily temperature, even in summer, does not rise above -30 ° C, and in winter it is below -70 ° C. At the Vostok station - the “Pole of Cold” - the lowest temperature on Earth was recorded (-89.2 ° C).

Since the air is very supercooled, downward air currents arise here. As a result, an area of ​​high atmospheric pressure extends over Antarctica - an anticyclone, surrounded by a chain of cyclones. In the interior of Antarctica, winds are relatively weak.

Particularly strong katabatic winds occur in Adélie Land, which is called Boer Country, where wind speeds can reach 320 m/s. Winds blow huge amounts of snow into the ocean, so in winter the seas are covered with solid ice. In summer, the boundary of solid ice retreats almost to the very shore. Continental ice slides into the water, breaks off and forms huge icebergs.

There is little precipitation in Antarctica - 150-200 mm, mainly in solid form. The amount of precipitation decreases towards the center of the continent. In winter, polar night reigns for 4 months in the interior of Antarctica. The weather is little windy, frost can reach -80 ° C. In the summer, the polar day continues for 4 months in the inland areas. The weather is slightly windy and partly cloudy. The air warms up to -30 ° C, and on the coast - up to 0 ° C.

Flora and fauna

Antarctica is an area of ​​the Antarctic desert. Most of it is devoid of vegetation and animal life. In summer, near the coast in elevated places, the surface of the earth, blown by the winds, has time to warm up a little and become free of snow. Such areas are called oases - these are dry and cold rocky deserts. Only in the coastal areas of the mainland and on the islands do mosses, lichens and lower algae grow.

Antarctic waters are rich in plankton, a collection of small plant and animal organisms, and provide food for whales, seals, fish and birds. The life of all Antarctic animals is connected with the ocean. Several species of cetaceans live here, among them the largest animals on our planet - blue whales, as well as sperm whales and killer whales. Pinnipeds are widespread - several species of seals, including the three-meter Weddell seal, predatory leopard seals, elephant seals, and crab seals. More than 44 species of birds live here. Among them are giant albatrosses, snow petrels, Cape pigeons, storm petrels, and chinstrap penguins. They nest on coastal cliffs, forming “bird colonies”. In the summer months, petrels, skuas, and cormorants nest on the shores of Antarctica.