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Antarctica - Coggle Diagram
Antarctica
Ecosystem
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Diversity of species is low compared to other ecosystems and food chains contain few trophic levels e.g. phytoplankton-krill-whales
Whales - There are blue, Humpback, Fin and Minke, with Minke the most abundant in the Southern Ocean
Penguins - there are 17 species of penguin with only 5 on Antarctica. They feed on krill, fish and squid
Tourism
Threats
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Tourism is growing due to the shrinking world effect and they are attracted by the stunning scenery and wildlife
Tourists can trample plants, disturb wildlife and drop litter, as well as introduce non-native species possibly spill fuel.
Numbers of tourists have increased with 7,413 in 1996 and 46,000 in 2007 due to a shrinking world effect
Protection
In 2009 the treaty agreed to introduce limits on tourists so only ships with fewer than 500 passengers can land and only 100 can be onshore at a time. They must also not disturb wildlife, drop littler, be supervised by guides, not go in specially protected areas, walk on fragile plant life and all waste must be treated biologically. This is part of the code of conduct
Climate Change
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Threat
Loss of 25,000 km squared of ice shelf since 1950s
Impacts Emperor penguins which breed on sea ice, decline in numbers up to 50%
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If Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf failed then Thwaites Glacier could speed up its flow and melt, rising sea levels by 64cm
Warmer ocean temperatures may allow the Chilean Mussel to invade and impact the biodiversity, helped by increased shipping activity
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Whaling
Threat
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Targeted the most profitable species, depleting stocks to unviable commercial levels and moving on to previously less favoured species
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Protection
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Whaling limited to Japan and Norway for scientific research, however Japan have exploited this and are now banned
Attempted to regulate with the IWC (International Whaling Commission) set up in 1949. Had little success but falling profits drove companies out of the business
Fishing
Threat
Effects are over-fishing of target species, effect food chains, destruction of habitat and catching non target species
Krill - demand for krill as a food source for aquaculture and bait, 1999 had catches of 100,000 tonnes, 2010 has catches of 210,000 tonnes, numbers dropped by 80% since 1970s and less sea ice may be the cause
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Protection
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CCAMLR (Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources came into force in 1982 and set catch limits in 1991
Mineral Resources
Protection
Never been commercial mining in Antarctica as banned by the Antarctic Treaty, future demand would put pressure on the vast mineral resource
Threats
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Contains Gold, Silver, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Nickel, Lead, Titanium and many more
Sealing
Threat
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300,000 seals killed in 3 years
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Small population remained on Bird Island in south Georgia, has no recolonised (by 1976 the population rebounded to 100,000)
Started in the 18th Century, in south Georgia then moved further south to the south Shetland Islands (Exploration and technology allow greater accessibility to the continent
Protection
Listed in appendix 2 of CITES (the Conservation on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora)
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The Antarctic Treaty
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Designed to protect and conserve the area, its plants and animal life