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examBoard: Cambridge
examType: IGCSE
lessonTitle: Antarctic Ecosystem Destruction Impacts
Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent, almost entirely covered by ice sheets averaging 1.9 km thick. Despite its harsh conditions, it supports a unique ecosystem that is now facing unprecedented threats from human activity and climate change.
Key Definitions:
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent on Earth. Winter temperatures can drop to -89°C and the continent receives less than 200mm of precipitation annually (mostly as snow). Despite these extreme conditions, Antarctica is home to diverse marine life and several species of birds, including the iconic Emperor Penguin.
The Antarctic ecosystem includes seals, whales, penguins, other seabirds and countless invertebrates. The surrounding Southern Ocean is rich in nutrients, supporting vast numbers of krill that feed larger animals. The continent itself has no native land mammals, reptiles, or amphibians and plant life is limited to mosses, lichens and algae.
The Antarctic environment faces several significant threats that are causing rapid changes to this fragile ecosystem. These threats are primarily driven by global human activities, even though Antarctica itself has no permanent human population.
Climate change is the most significant threat to Antarctica's ecosystems. The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth, with average temperatures rising by 3°C over the past 50 years – about five times the global average rate.
Rising temperatures are causing unprecedented ice loss. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is losing over 150 billion tonnes of ice annually. If it melted completely, global sea levels would rise by about 3.3 metres.
Changing sea ice patterns affect penguin breeding cycles and feeding grounds. Adélie penguin populations have declined by over 65% in some regions due to reduced sea ice and changing krill availability.
The Southern Ocean is absorbing more CO₂, becoming more acidic. This threatens krill development and shell-forming organisms like pteropods, disrupting the entire food web.
The Larsen Ice Shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula has experienced dramatic collapses. In 2002, the Larsen B section disintegrated in just 35 days, releasing an area of ice larger than Rhode Island. Scientists had never witnessed such a large ice mass collapse so quickly. This event released thousands of icebergs into the Weddell Sea and exposed new ocean areas to sunlight, dramatically changing local ecosystems. Marine organisms that had lived in darkness for thousands of years were suddenly exposed to light and new species began colonising the seafloor.
Despite its remoteness, human activities have significant impacts on Antarctic ecosystems. These activities range from scientific research to tourism and historical exploitation of marine resources.
Over 70 research stations operate in Antarctica, housing up to 5,000 personnel during summer months. These stations can cause local pollution, habitat disturbance and introduce non-native species. For example, the McMurdo Station (USA) created a waste dump that leaked into the marine environment until cleanup efforts began in the 1980s. However, scientific research is also essential for understanding and protecting the continent.
Antarctic tourism has grown dramatically, from about 6,700 visitors in 1992-93 to over 74,000 in 2019-20. Tourist ships can disturb wildlife, potentially introduce invasive species and create pollution risks. The 2007 sinking of the MS Explorer highlighted the dangers of Antarctic tourism when the ship leaked fuel into pristine waters.
Antarctica has a history of resource exploitation that continues to affect its ecosystems today:
The degradation of Antarctic ecosystems has far-reaching consequences that extend well beyond the continent itself.
Antarctic ice sheets contain enough water to raise global sea levels by 58 metres. Even partial melting threatens coastal cities worldwide. The Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers alone could contribute over 1 metre of sea level rise.
Antarctica helps regulate Earth's climate by reflecting solar radiation and driving ocean currents. Disruption to this system affects weather patterns globally, potentially increasing extreme weather events.
Many Antarctic species exist nowhere else on Earth. Their loss would reduce global biodiversity and potentially eliminate valuable genetic resources and compounds that could have medical applications.
Emperor penguins depend on stable sea ice for breeding, raising chicks and moulting. In 2022, the Halley Bay colony, once the second-largest in the world with 25,000 breeding pairs, experienced catastrophic breeding failure for three consecutive years after the sea ice broke up early. Scientists project that under current warming trends, 80% of Emperor penguin colonies could be quasi-extinct by 2100. This species was listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in 2022 – the first species to be listed primarily due to threats from climate change.
Recognising the importance of Antarctica, the international community has developed several agreements to protect this unique environment.
The Antarctic Treaty System is the primary framework for governing activities in Antarctica:
Despite these protections, enforcement remains challenging due to Antarctica's remoteness and the lack of a single governing authority.
Protecting Antarctica requires both global and local actions. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to slow climate change impacts, while better management of local activities can reduce direct human impacts.
Ongoing research helps us understand Antarctic ecosystems and develop better protection strategies. Remote sensing technologies allow monitoring of remote areas, while marine protected areas (MPAs) can safeguard critical habitats. The Ross Sea MPA, established in 2016, protects 1.55 million km² of ocean – but proposals for additional MPAs have faced political resistance.
Public awareness of Antarctica's importance is crucial for generating political will to protect it. Educational initiatives like the Antarctic Youth Ambassador programme and digital outreach by research stations help connect people worldwide to this remote continent, building support for conservation efforts.
Even though Antarctica is far away, your actions can help protect it:
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