The Antarctica Food Web

What is a Food Web? It is different to a basic food chain. It is a more complex food chain which make cross over between species allows interactions between species

The Southern Ocean The Southern Ocean around Antarctica is very productive. It has one of the richest wildlife environment on the plant under the ice and above it. The Southern Ocean is nutrient rich due to the ocean currents bringing in large supplies of nutrients from the deeps.

Why is the Southern Ocean so Productive? The summer time has 24hrs light which allows photosynthesis to occur by the Phytoplankton which also feeds on nutrients which the ocean currents bring. This brings in a large food source for the Phytoplankton.

Who eats who? Phytoplankton are eaten by the Krill Krill are eaten byfish or by Baleen Whales (e.g.. Blue Whale) Fish are eaten byPenguins, seals, larger fish, albatross Penguins and seals are eaten by Toothed whales (Orcas)

Your Task Your task is to design the Antarctic food web in your books. You need to include all the animals mentioned. You need to link the animals together to show who eats who. The arrows should point to who is eating who. You can use the sheet provided for help with the animals. You can use up to two pages in your books. You need to start with the sun on your food web.

Food Web SUN

Task 2 Krill are now harvested by a huge Russian factory ship, which can net hundreds of tonnes at a time. How will this affect the food web? Explain your answer. What should be done about it?

Home Work 1. Finish the Food web. 2. Complete the question on krill. 3. Revise your Antarctica notes for a test next lesson.