Nature, plants and animals of Antarctica. The main features of the nature of Antarctica What determines the unique features of the nature of 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.

Vegetable world

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 snowy plover, the pipit, and one species of duck are known, which 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.

The territory of Antarctica is located in the Antarctic and Subantarctic regions. The border between them lies in the ocean and only the northwestern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula belongs to the subantarctic belt. The Antarctic polar climate is determined by the Antarctic climate over Antarctica and Antarctic air masses. The snow line is everywhere near the coast near sea level.

In winter, there is polar night for several months. During the long polar day, the continent receives a lot of solar radiation, but up to 90% of it is reflected by the ice surface. The coast of the continent is influenced by stable areas of high and low pressure in Antarctica, which determine unstable conditions. Based on a complex of natural features and processes, the territory of the Antarctic ice sheet is divided into four concentric zones: central, katabatic, Antarctic coast and oceanic.

Low temperatures prevail throughout the year in Antarctica. Average winter July temperatures range from -60°C inland to -32°C on the coast. The lowest temperature on Earth was recorded in Antarctica - 91.2 °C. The previous record, recorded at the Vostok station, was two degrees higher. Summer January temperatures are much higher, but they are also negative and range from –32 °C to –16 °C. On the coast of the mainland, the air temperature rarely drops below –40 °C in winter, and rises to 0 °C in summer.

Over the continent, due to the strong constant cooling of the air, a huge area of ​​high air is formed, which, together with the World Ocean, has a great impact on the general circulation of the Earth’s atmosphere. Cold air masses flow from high central regions and ice domes to the outskirts of the continent, forming strong katabatic winds (up to 30-50 m/s or more). The maximum wind speed in Antarctica was recorded by the Belarusian polar explorer A. Gaidashov - 88 m/s. Winds are very powerful and tear off and move loose loads over long distances. The dry snow they carry can saw through thick ropes. At low temperatures, due to hypothermia, the metal loses its properties and breaks into pieces, like glass.

At high pressure and low temperatures in the central part of the continent there is little precipitation (50-100 mm). Significantly more precipitation falls on the Antarctic islands located in the subantarctic belt. The climatic conditions here are less severe: winter temperatures are slightly below 0 °C, summer temperatures rarely exceed +10 °C. But even here there are winds (up to 75 m/s), which are caused by strong sea storms. The Antarctic coastal zone and the oceanic zone are characterized by the most intense snow accumulation and ice cover consumption.

Flora and fauna of Antarctica

Antarctica is an almost universally cold Antarctic surface with harsh conditions for the development of life (lack of soil, low temperatures, strong temperatures). Life on the mainland exists only in the coastal zone, on the subantarctic islands and in ocean waters. The vegetation of the mainland is represented by mosses, lichens, algae and microscopic fungi.

In the zone of Antarctic deserts, three subzones are distinguished: the northern - northwestern part of the Antarctic coast and adjacent islands, the middle - coastal oases, islands and mountain ranges, and the southern - land within the continent. Lichens are found in Antarctic oases - in areas free of ice. They differ in color in Antarctica - from black to bright orange. This is how lichens adapt to local conditions and strive to receive as much solar heat as possible. Algae appear in lakes that form in summer. And only in the north of the Antarctic Peninsula and on the islands are low-growing higher plants with small flowers found.

Despite the harsh natural conditions, Antarctica exhibits altitudinal zonation: a lower coastal zone with maximum diversity of nature (oases, ice shelves), a middle zone (ice deserts with snow deserts) and a zone of eternal frost without signs of life.

The fauna of Antarctica is poor. Crustaceans, wingless insects, and some bird species live here. Penguins are the most interesting representatives of birds. Penguins move slowly on land, but are good swimmers. In total, four of the 18 species of penguins found on Earth live in Antarctica. About 10 species of penguins are known in coastal waters and on islands.

The most common species is the Adelie penguin. Its height is up to 30 cm, weight - several kilograms. The largest is the emperor penguin. Its height reaches more than a meter, and its weight reaches 50 kg. These penguins breed their offspring in the harsh winter. Females lay eggs, and males, holding them on their paws and pressing them to the down of their warm belly, “raise” the chicks.

The richest flora and fauna of coastal waters. The largest mammals are found here - cetaceans, including the blue whale, or vomit (up to 33 m in length, weighing up to 150 tons), fin whales, sperm whales, killer whales (predators from the dolphin family), as well as pinnipeds - seals, elephant seals, sea lions. Antarctic waters are home to several species of seals that differ from their northern relatives. This indicates their adaptability to harsh waters. Petrels, gray gulls, and skuas nest along the shores of Antarctica. Birds feed on fish or small sea animals.

Gray gulls are the most predatory birds of Antarctica; they feed on the eggs of penguins, petrels, and also attack small chicks.

There is an abundance of fish in Antarctic waters. In the vast expanses of the sea, microscopic algae form “ocean pastures.” There is a lot of krill - the smallest crustaceans.

Scientists believe that the annual catch of krill in the amount of 70-80 million tons (at the level of the world fish catch) without damaging the Antarctic ecosystem can provide half of the world's population with 20 g of animal protein per day. Sales of food products from 10 million tons of krill are equivalent to 3 million tons of beef in slaughter weight. Scientists have calculated that the annual production of this species in the oceanic zone of Antarctica is 1.7-1.8 billion tons, and the total biomass is up to 6 billion tons. And if no other products are grown on the planet, then the biological resources of Antarctica can feed everything humanity for 7 years.

The harsh climate of Antarctica is formed due to the peculiarities of its geographical location, the presence of ice cover and is the reason for the extremely poor organic world. The continent is almost universally a cold Antarctic (biological) desert. Antarctica plays a key role in the planet's atmosphere and climate.

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Goals: Acquaintance with the peculiarities of climate, relief, ice cover, flora and fauna of Antarctica.

Tasks:

1. To develop the ability to use scientific methods of knowledge of nature, to instill educational skills

2. Develop speech, logical thinking, the ability to express one’s point of view, and the ability to independently solve educational problems

3. Foster a caring attitude towards nature.

Lesson type: learning new material

Lesson format: teaching research

Methods: partially search, research

During the classes

1. Organizational stage.

"And this unknown land of snow and ice lies beyond the Antarctic Circle, shining dazzlingly in the rays of the sun of the polar day or shrouded in clouds and whirlwinds of a blizzard in the darkness of the polar night. It is beautiful in its own way, this region. And whoever has been there once will always be remember the great silence of the icy desert, painted in the morning hours in delicate blue, lilac and pink pastel tones, cold flashes of the polar lights, cozy lights of wintering grounds, covered with snowdrifts from the bliss" (polar scientist A.M. Gusev) (Slide 1-3) .

What do you think is the topic of today's lesson? (Write on the board)

Today we continue our acquaintance with the most unusual continent on Earth - Antarctica. (Slide 4)

The territory of the mainland does not belong to any state. There is no permanent population here. In 1959, an international treaty was signed limiting the economic development of Antarctica and prohibiting any military activity here. Scientists from different countries, including Russia, are conducting research on the icy continent, allowing them not only to learn about the past and present of our planet, but also to look into its future. It is not easy for polar explorers to do their work in the harsh conditions of the extreme south of the planet. (Slide 5)

There are many other figurative names for Antarctica in various literature. (Slide 6)

Problematic issues:

Is Antarctica research needed?

Why do they explore and explore Antarctica?

This is the main question of our lesson. (Write on the board)

In order to answer this question, today we are going to Antarctica as scientists who will study the nature of the continent.

The following scientific stations will operate: Moroznaya, Molodezhnaya, Zvezdnaya, Solnechnaya.

Each group of researchers receives a work package containing all working documents. The scientific center is located in the city of Ivanovo at school No. 62, where we will send all reports on the work done. At the end of the lesson, each group must submit a package of documents.

2. Research stage.

Let's begin our research.

1.Antarctica is the highest continent. (Slide 7)

Task: prove this statement and identify cause-and-effect relationships.

But first, let’s listen to what geomorphologists will tell us (Slide 8)

Using the textbook, maps, and additional text, fill out the table.

Subglacial relief

Let's check (Slide 9)

Now the cartographers will label the landforms on the contour map.

James Clark Ross and Francis Crozier, on their ships Erebus and Terror, broke the pack ice on January 9, 1841 and found themselves on the open water of the Ross Sea. Three days later they saw a majestic mountain range. The ships continued their journey south. The travelers were amazed by the view of the stunning volcano. The volcano was named Mount Erebus. An active volcano in the middle of the ice and snow of a frozen continent. (Slide 10)

What is the reason for the location of the volcano on this continent (discussion in groups, putting forward versions).

Put it on the outline map.

Name the specialists who study volcanoes.

Let's pay attention to the location of the mainland. It is located in the very south of the planet, like a bowl that holds our globe. Volcanologists and seismologists at Antarctic bases around the continent monitor seismic activity across the planet.

Let's return to our main question.

What role do seismologists and volcanologists working in Antarctica play in the study of the entire planet?

Conclusions:

2. Tracking seismic activity throughout the planet (Attached sheets on the board)

Geologists work at our stations.

What are they doing?

Let's hear what they found.

Why are there similarities with South America and Australia?

Minerals of igneous and sedimentary origin were found.

Explain the origin of minerals.

Place mineral icons on the outline map.

What is the significance of geologists' research?

Conclusion: Mineral Reserves (Attached to the board)

Problematic question: We were able to prove that Antarctica is the highest continent?

Let's listen to the glaciologists. Maybe they can help us. (Slide 11)

The ice in Antarctica is moving. Find in the text evidence of ice movement in Antarctica. What are the consequences of ice spreading?

The answer to this question will be filling out the diagram. (Slide 12)

What are your guesses?

Let's check that it's filled out correctly. (Slide 13)

Pay attention to the diagram of the ice cover (Scheme of the subglacial relief) Why do icebergs of different shapes form? (Slides 14, 15) As the ice slides, it forms deep cracks, which become very dangerous, and it is very difficult to get out of them. (Slide 16) Sometimes huge ice mountains float to 35° S. When they melt, they can unexpectedly turn over, so they represent great threat to navigation. Most of the iceberg is underwater. (Slide 17)

Who knows why?

Let's leave this question open.

We studied the ice cover of Antarctica.

What else is Antarctica rich in?

Conclusion: Antarctica contains about 80% of the world's fresh water reserves. (Attached to the board)

Let us summarize the first part of our research. Now we have proven that Antarctica is the highest continent?

There are many secrets associated with the mainland. Here's another one. In Antarctica, the Bloody Falls sometimes emerge from the Taylor Glacier. (Slide 18) The water in them contains divalent iron, which, when combined with atmospheric air, oxidizes and forms rust. This is what gives the waterfall its bloody red color. However, divalent iron does not appear in water just like that - it is produced by bacteria living in a reservoir isolated from the outside world deep under the ice. These bacteria were able to organize a life cycle in the complete absence of sunlight and oxygen. They process organic residues and “breathe” ferric iron from surrounding rocks.

There are a large number of rivers and lakes under the ice. (Slide 19) The lake under the Vostok scientific station is especially interesting. The ice thickness here is 4 kilometers. Analyzes of the ice over the lake were carried out. As a result, a bacterium was discovered that can only live at a temperature of +55°. This means that the water in the lake was once extremely hot. Or maybe she remains like that to this day. Satellites measured the water temperature in the lake - from +10° to +18°

What do you think is the source of water under the ice?

Try filling out the chart. (Slide 20)

Let's check. (Slide 21)

Let us turn to the main question of our lesson about the importance of studying and exploring the mainland.

What is the significance for the entire planet of studying the under-ice world of Antarctica?

Conclusion: By studying the subglacial world of the continent, scientists are studying the history of the development of the entire Earth. (Attached to the board)

Why is the continent covered with thick ice?

Antarctica is the coldest continent. (Slide 22)

2. The next task of our lesson is to prove this statement.

We have climatologists working here. We will give them the floor.

Working with various sources, complete the chart

Let's check our diagram (Slide 23)

Place the main climate indicators on the contour map.

So, Antarctica is the coldest continent.

Do you think the climate conditions of Antarctica affect the climate of the entire planet?

Conclusion: Impact on the climatic conditions of the entire planet. (Attached to the board)

3. Such a harsh continent, are there plants and animals on it?

Let's listen to the biologists. (Slide 24-30)

When finishing your work with contour maps, create a collage of images of the animal and plant world around it.

Stage 3 - consolidation of the studied material

Let's summarize. Let's return to the topic of our lesson - the Nature of Antarctica.

Let's remember the figurative names of Antarctica. Please compile a table in which it is necessary to select characteristics that prove these provisions for figurative names.

Figurative names of Antarctica

Guys, today we visited the most mysterious continent on the planet. We touched on its secrets and mysteries. We came to the conclusion that it was necessary to study and explore the mainland. And here are our main conclusions:

1. Study of processes occurring in the earth's crust

2. Tracking seismic activity across the planet

3. Mineral reserves

4. Antarctica contains about 80% of the world's fresh water reserves

5. By studying the subglacial world of the continent, scientists study the history of the development of the entire Earth.

6. Impact on the climatic conditions of the entire planet

All expeditions did a good job. You hand over your work packages to the science center.

Stage 4 - homework assignment

1. Paragraph 33, Simulator, rear. 1,2,3, easy exam

2. If desired, find answers to the following questions:

Most of the iceberg is underwater. Why?

Why out of 17 species of penguins only 2 species live in Antarctica

Informational resources.

1. htt://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica

2. htt://images.yandex.ru

3. htt://wordmystery.ru

4. A.G. Stadnik. Geography grades 6-10. Lessons - research, discussions, press conferences. Volgograd, publishing house "Teacher"

5. N.A. Nikitina "Lesson work in geography" 7th grade. "Waco." Moscow 2005.

This is one of the most mysterious and little-studied continents on our planet. Antarctica was discovered by two brave researchers - M. Lazarev and F. Bellingshausen. Their expedition confirmed the presence of Antarctica in the south of the globe. This happened in 1820.

Climatic conditions

The nature of Antarctica has the coldest climate on earth. In 1983, the absolute minimum was officially recorded - minus 89.2 degrees. In winter, temperatures range from -60 to -75 degrees. In summer it rises to -50. And only on the coast the climate is milder: the average temperature ranges from 0 to -20 degrees.

Precipitation is possible only in the form of snow, which is compressed under its own weight, forming new layers of ice.

However, Antarctica has rivers and lakes. They appear in the summer, and in the winter they are again covered with an ice crust. Today, scientists have discovered 140 subglacial lakes. Of these, only one does not freeze - Vostok.

Flora of Antarctica

The flora of the continent is extremely poor. The natural features of Antarctica are explained by its harsh climate. Most of all algae grow here - about 700 species. The ice-free plains and coast of the mainland are covered with lichens and mosses. There are only two flowering plants on this harsh land - colobanthus quito and Antarctic meadow.

Colobanthus Quito refers to This is a low herbaceous plant that has a cushion shape with small pale yellow and white flowers. The height of an adult plant does not exceed five 5 centimeters.

Antarctic meadow grass is a cereal plant. It grows only in areas of the earth illuminated by the sun. These inconspicuous bushes grow up to 20 centimeters. The plant tolerates frost well. Even during flowering it is not harmed by frost.

The flora of Antarctica, represented by a few plants, has adapted to the eternal cold. Their cells contain little water, all processes are slow.

Animals

The natural features of Antarctica have left their mark on the fauna of the continent. The animals of this icy country live only where there is vegetation. Despite the harsh climate, dinosaurs lived in Antarctica in ancient times.

Antarctic animals can be divided into two independent groups - aquatic and terrestrial. It should be noted that there are no animals permanently living on land in Antarctica.

The waters surrounding the mainland are rich in zooplankton, which is the main food for seals, whales, penguins and fur seals. Ice fish live here - amazing creatures that have adapted to existence in icy water.

Large animals of Antarctica include which attract large numbers of shrimp.

Blue-green algae and roundworms live in fresh lakes, and crustaceans and daphnia are found.

Birds

Antarctica is home to penguins, Arctic terns and skuas. The nature of the mainland does not allow more birds to live here. There are four species of penguins living in Antarctica. The largest population is imperial. Occasionally, petrels fly to the southern continent.

Mammals

Antarctica, whose nature is too harsh for animals to live in, can only boast of those species that are able to live both on land and in water. First of all, these are seals. In addition, leopard seals live on the coast and there are small sand or black and white dolphins, which whalers call

Predators of Antarctica

This continent is home to a wide variety of predators. Their diet mainly consists of planktonic crustaceans. Of these, it is necessary to highlight the leopard seal - the largest seal that feeds on krill. It lives at shallow depths. At the same time, it also has the reputation of a predator, which is capable of hunting large animals. Such hunting, however, is only seasonal and is intended to diversify the diet, which consists of squid and fish, but its basis is krill. A small number of these marine predators stay close to penguin rookeries and colonies. In most cases, these giants drift on ice floes along the peninsula and by the beginning of winter they gather in large numbers near South Georgia.

Leopard seals are real giants. The officially registered length is 3.8 meters, but larger animals have been encountered.

By autumn, leopards change their lifestyle and come close to the shore, along which inexperienced young fur seals and penguins descend.

Invertebrates

For whom the nature of Antarctica is completely suitable, it is invertebrate arthropods. Antarctica is home to 67 species of ticks and four species of lice. There are lice eaters, fleas and, of course, mosquitoes here. It should be noted that wingless ringing mosquitoes, which have a jet-black color, live only on the icy continent. These insects are endemic and belong to completely land animals.

The bulk of invertebrates and insects were brought to the southern continent by birds.

Tourism

Despite the harsh climate, about six thousand tourists come to Antarctica every year. Most of them go to the Antarctic Peninsula, where there is an airfield and a tourist base. In the 1990s, tourists began to visit the Ross Sea.

The coldest continent, Antarctica, is located at the South Pole of planet Earth. The long polar night cools the surface of this continent, and in summer ice and snow reflect 90% of sunlight. Because of these conditions, the average daily temperature in Antarctica is -30 degrees. The cold pole of the Southern Hemisphere is Vostok station. This point is characterized by temperatures reaching 89 degrees below zero. The coastal strip of the mainland is much warmer; in summer the temperature fluctuates around 0 degrees, and in winter the temperature rarely drops to -30 degrees.

Due to cooling, a baric maximum has formed in the center of Antarctica, an anticyclone zone with high atmospheric pressure, from where constant winds blow towards the ocean at speeds of up to 320 km/h. Due to such conditions, the world's largest polar desert appeared on the mainland, its area is 13.8 million square meters. km. There are no plants or animals on the territory of this desert, but in rare oases you can find isolated representatives of the living world.

Basically, the flora of Antarctica consists of lower plants. About a hundred species of mosses, almost a thousand varieties of lichens and microscopic algae grow on the mainland. Bacteria were found in the snow near Vostok station. Representatives of the fauna of Antarctica live in areas of coastal seas. In summer, the rocky shores are home to petrels, albatrosses, skua gulls and penguins.

Large emperor and Adelie penguins are the most striking representatives of the bird world of Antarctica. They can make long journeys inland. The seas, rich in krill and plankton, are home to killer whales, sperm whales, seals and whales. Once upon a time, there was active fishing for them in Antarctic waters, but due to a severe decline in populations, many species are under protection.

The formation of flora in the Mesozoic era distinguished Antarctica and the adjacent areas of other continents into a special floristic kingdom. After climate change, the nature of Antarctica became poorer due to the migration of species to more habitable areas.

Flora of Antarctica

Due to the harsh climate, the continent has sparse flora. In summer, the plains, shorelines and ponds are covered with lichens, mosses and blue-green algae. Often they and bacteria form a dense mucous crust at the bottom of fresh water bodies, also ending up on the surface of water and melted snow. When combined with strong winds, a natural phenomenon called red snow is formed. This happens when gusts of wind lift microscopic algae into the air, lifting them off the surface and mixing them with the snow. Also, often accumulations of algae on the snow form bright spots.

In the Antarctic seas there are algae called mactocytas, which translates as “large celled”. Their length reaches 300 meters. The cells of these algae are enormous in size compared to other representatives of the flora. These unusual plants create underwater forests on the seabed.

In second place after algae, the most common representatives of the lower class of plants in the flora of Antarctica are lichens. Due to the impossibility of separating them with bare hands from the rocks on which they adhere, these lichens are also called “scale lichens.” There are also deciduous representatives of lichens that look like small bushes. The growth of these plants in the climate of Antarctica is slowed down because it is inhibited by the constant influence of low temperatures and strong winds. Some crustose Antarctic lichens reach an age of 10 thousand years. These plants carry out the process of photosynthesis, growing on bare rocks in the harsh conditions of the cold continent.

Lichens are striking in their color diversity - there are orange, yellow, light green, gray and even the rarest black specimens on the planet, which are not rare in Antarctica. This is because the black pigment allows them to absorb as much sunlight and heat as possible.

Two species of flowering plants grow on the rocky soils of Antarctica. The first of these is Colobanthus Quito, a member of the carnation family, a low herbaceous plant with small pale yellow flowers. The second belongs to the grass family, its name is Antarctic meadow grass. The growing season of these plants is short. They are well adapted to the harsh frosts of Antarctica, but nevertheless prefer well-warmed areas.

The sparse flora of Antarctica is due to endemicity - existence in a limited area. Due to the long isolated development of the continent, plant representatives were able to adapt to low temperatures and harsh climates.

Wildlife of the mainland

Representatives of the fauna of Antarctica live only in those areas of the continent where there is vegetation. Conventionally, Antarctic animals are divided into two groups - aquatic and terrestrial. It is noteworthy that in Antarctica there are no animals that live permanently on land.

A small number of worms live in the soil of the mainland. Also typical for Antarctica are organisms such as primitive crustaceans and insects that lack wings due to the constant strong wind - it does not allow them to rise into the air. On some islands, the terrestrial fauna is more diverse - you can find beetles, spiders and even one species of flightless butterfly.

Representatives of the bird world in Antarctica are unique. In summer, the coastal cliffs are inhabited by petrels, gulls, cormorants and albatrosses. The white plover and the pipit are birds that live directly on land. One species of duck, the yellow-billed pintail, nests on South Georgia Island.

Adélie penguins are characteristic inhabitants of Antarctica. They spend most of the year in the ocean, because the water temperature is higher than the air temperature. When the nesting season begins, Adélie penguins come to land. These birds have an unusual mating ritual. When choosing a partner, the male brings the female he likes a stone that he has chosen especially for her. If the female accepts him, she will become the male’s companion for life. Chicks spend the first 2 months of life in a unique community reminiscent of a bird’s “nursery”. After this period, young penguins begin to obtain food on their own. An adult penguin eats 2 kg of food per day.

Also in the Antarctic seas live representatives of the largest mammals - cetaceans, which are divided into baleen and toothed whales. Baleen whales are better studied because they are the main target for whaling. The blue whale is the largest of the baleen whales and, along with the fin whale, is of great commercial importance. On average, the length of these cetaceans is about 26 m.

Large whales weigh up to 160 tons, and of this weight, 20 tons are pure fat. These mammals feed on a variety of plankton that live in Antarctic waters. Sperm whales, bottlenose whales and killer whales are toothed whales, which are dangerous predators. The most notable of these are killer whales - they have a sharp dorsal fin, with which they can mortally wound even a whale.

Killer whales hunt in packs. Their sophisticated hunting methods allow them to successfully attack even predators such as seals, fur seals and sea lions. Dolphins and sperm whales also fall prey to killer whales. No less remarkable is the approach of killer whales to everyone whom they have designated as their meal. They actively use the topography of the seabed to hide before attacking the seal. When hunting penguins, killer whales dive in a flock under an ice floe and knock several individuals into the water at once. For killer whales, a whale becomes an easy prey when a group of males attack it from all sides, preventing the victim from rising to the surface of the water. But a pod of killer whales does not allow the sperm whale to go to a saving depth.

It is noteworthy that with such a bloodthirsty nature within the pod, killer whales are friendly and caring, sincerely worried about their crippled and old relatives. These mammals have so-called maternal groups, the leader of which is the main killer whale with a calf and adult sons. The social structure is completed by the main killer whale's relatives and their families. In general, in such a group there are up to 20 individuals, each flock develops its own dialect.

Seals are widespread in Antarctica. One of the most famous is the Weddell seal, whose body length is about 3 m. It mainly lives in the zone of stationary ice. For other types of seals, floating ice is a haven; crabeater seals and leopard seals, distinguished by their spotted skins, live there. The largest representative of seals is the elephant seal. In the vastness of Antarctica, there is an eared seal, which is so named because of its pronounced mane.

“Survival of the fittest” is the main principle for the inhabitants of Antarctica. Every living creature on the mainland confronts low temperatures every day, they are forced to obtain food in extreme conditions. Antarctic animals in flocks and colonies take care of each other. For an external enemy, they become a terrifying force. The ice world of Antarctica is harsh and dangerous, but it fascinates with its magnificent fauna and unique flora.