Three examples of marine life in the Antarctic: Seals and krill live in the Southern Ocean. Penguins live on the Antarctic continent and rely on the ocean for food.
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Upper/middle photos courtesy of Uwe Kils and lower photo courtesy of Stan Shebs
Antarctic Marine Life
The chilly waters of the Southern Ocean are home to a variety of marine creatures including eight whale species, six seal species, many fish species, and Antarctic krill, a small shrimp-like animal that is a key food for other species in the Southern Ocean.
There are 17 species of penguins in Antarctica. Penguins are part of the marine food web even though they live on land because they are dependant on the ocean for food. Other bird species depend on the Southern Ocean for food too such as the black-browed albatross and the Antarctic petrel.
The Southern Ocean food chain begins like most marine food chains, with primary producers called phytoplankton. Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton convert the Sun’s energy into food. Animals like Antarctic krill eat the phytoplankton and then larger animals such as penguins eat the krill. However, the Antarctic ozone hole has caused the amount of phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean to drop by as much as 15% which could eventually have an impact on the whole food chain.
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Spring 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist, focuses on the ocean, including articles on polar research, coral reefs, ocean acidification, and climate. Includes a gorgeous full color poster!
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