What is unique about the nature of Antarctica? Lecture: Features of the nature of Antarctica

Antarctica is the coldest continent on the planet. In the conditions of the polar night in winter there is a strong cooling of it. And in summer, the ice and snow cover of Antarctica reflects almost 90% of solar radiation. In inland areas, even in summer, average daily temperatures are around -30°C, and in winter they reach -70°C. The Vostok station recorded the lowest temperature on our planet (-89.2°C). On the coast of the mainland it is much warmer: in summer the air temperature is about 0°C, and in winter there are moderate frosts - up to -10... -25°C. As a result of strong cooling, a baric maximum is formed in the center of the continent - an area of ​​​​high atmospheric pressure, from which constant katabatic winds blow towards the oceans. They are especially strong in a strip 600-800 km wide when moving away from the coast. The ice cover in Antarctica is constantly replenished due to snowfall and its subsequent crystallization on the ice surface. On average there is about 200 mm of precipitation per year. And in the central regions of the mainland their number is several tens of millimeters. From the inner regions of the ice dome, the ice gradually spreads to the outskirts. In summer, huge blocks of ice break off from the edge of the ice sheet in the form of tabletop and pyramidal icebergs and slide into the water, and then are carried away by currents into the ocean.

The main part of the territory of Antarctica belongs to the zone of Antarctic deserts, which is practically devoid of vegetation and wildlife. The oases of Antarctica can be considered as centers of life on an icy continent. The modern vegetation of the continent is represented by lower plants: mosses - 80 species, lichens - 800 species, as well as microscopic algae. And in the region of the Pole of Cold, bacteria were found in the snow. The fauna of Antarctica is connected with the oceanic waters washing the continent. In summer, dozens of bird species nest on the coast and on coastal cliffs - petrels, albatrosses, skua gulls and penguins. Among the latter, the most typical are Adélie penguins, which make long journeys into the interior of the continent, and large emperor penguins. The coastal waters are home to whales, sperm whales, killer whales, and various types of seals. There is a lot of plankton in coastal waters, especially small crustaceans (krill). Fish, whales, pinnipeds, and birds feed on it. Antarctic waters are a catchment area for cetaceans, pinnipeds, nototheniids, and krill. But to date, the marine resources of Antarctica have been greatly depleted and many species of animals, such as whales, are under protection. There is no permanent population in Antarctica. Its international status is such that it does not belong to any state. Only scientists from all countries of the world can engage in scientific research on the continent, and individual tourist and sports expeditions break the icy silence of the vast expanses of the continent.

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The basis of modern m
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Features of Australia's inland waters

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Antarctica - geographical location, discovery, research, modern status of the continent

Geographers distinguish between the concepts “Antarctica” and “Antarctica”. The name “Antarctica” comes from the Greek words “anti” - against, “arktikos” - northern, i.e. lying opposite the Earth's north polar region

The article contains information that allows you to better understand the features and distinctive features of the mainland. Supplements data from the 7th grade geography course. Explains the difficulties that prevent the start of mining in Antarctica.

Difficult climatic conditions also affect the ability to use the natural resources of the continent.

The ice of Antarctica contains 80% of the planet's fresh water. The main continental territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle, so here you can observe the phenomenon of polar day and polar night.

Interesting: At the pole, the duration of this phenomenon reaches 6 months. Only once a year does the sun rise and set in this area.

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Extremely harsh natural conditions and climatic features are the reason that most of the continent does not have flora and fauna. This phenomenon is referred to in the scientific community as the Antarctic ice desert.

The basis of Antarctic species diversity is:

• bacteria,
• lichens,
• mushrooms,
• seaweed,
• several species of angiosperms.

Rice. 1. Antarctic mushrooms.

The species range of the coast is richer. The Southern Ocean contains enough fish in its waters, and therefore a lot of birds nest on the shores: penguins, skuas, petrels, cormorants.

Rice. 2. Petrel bird.

Blue whales, sperm whales, and pinnipeds live in sea waters.

Many representatives of the animal world are protected by wildlife conservationists.

Natural areas of Antarctica

Most of the continent is dominated by the icy Antarctic desert.

Representatives of the local fauna are mostly inhabitants of the ocean depths.

Rice. 3. Glacial relief.

The continent is conventionally divided into two natural areas. The western tip of the continent is represented by subglacial mountain-like and glacial relief. East Antarctica conquered a large area of ​​the mainland.

More than one and a half dozen states (16), and Russia is no exception, have established scientific bases here, where research activities regarding the nature of the continent are carried out. In 1959, at the proposal of the USSR, the International Treaty on Antarctica was ratified, which categorically prohibits testing of any types of weapons here.

The prospects that will make it possible in the future to extract the natural resources of Antarctica, still hidden in the ice, are tempting for most countries.

Some states have taken initiative in the development of mineral deposits. Since 1991, a proposal has been made to ban such types of activities. The reason is that human intrusion into the fragile ecosystem of the mainland can become a factor that will lead to irreversible consequences.

Geological exploration is still being carried out in order to find out the exact amount of reserves that may be located in the bowels of the continent.

What have we learned?

We learned which types of flora and fauna are most common on the mainland. We found out what reasons and circumstances make it difficult to explore the territory for the purpose of mining. We received information about the natural areas of Antarctica. We found out why it is impossible to test any types of weapons on the continent.

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Sections: Geography

Lesson topic: Features of the nature of the polar regions. Antarctica: history of research, FGP (physiographic location), nature.

DURING THE CLASSES

I. Lesson organization

II. Communicating the topic and lesson plan

Subglacial relief. Climate, organic world of Antarctica, its features.

Equipment

1. Multimedia projector. 2. Interactive whiteboard. 3. CD-ROM: “Geography. Our home is Earth. Continents. Oceans. Peoples. Countries.”4.

Antarctica. Physical card. 5. Ice sheet of Antarctica (table).

III. Learning new material
1. Teacher's message:

– Today we will make an expedition to an amazing continent, which is located on the opposite side of the globe to the Arctic. This is the continent of Antarctica. Its name is translated from the Greek “anti” - against.

2. Mainland representation:
– Before setting off on the expedition, I want to introduce you to the opinions of travelers who have visited Antarctica
And white penguins in black tailcoats.
A gloomy bastion of sparkling ice.
And the plains leading to death.

– And today we must find out what Antarctica really is. To do this, we take travel diaries with us, in which we will report on the work done according to the expedition plan.

Geographical location of Antarctica

Answer the questions using the atlas page 42 and the physical wall map.

– Position relative to the equator, relative to the prime meridian, relative to the Antarctic Circle, relative to the south pole. Washing oceans. Nearby continents.

Fill out the waybill (first line. Next, students fill out the table as the lesson progresses).

Scientific stations have been created. Tourism is developing.History of continental exploration

(explanation by the teacher using the educational disc “Geography. Our home is the Earth. Continents. Oceans. Peoples. Countries” page “Discoveries and exploration of the continent”).

After sailing to the shores of Australia, J. Cook wrote: “The risk involved in sailing these unexplored and ice-covered seas in search of the Southern Continent is so great that I can take sufficient liberty to say that no man will ever decide to do more than I did, and that the lands that may be in the south will never be explored."

Bellingshausen was born in Estonia in 1779, the commander of the sloop M. Lazarev was born in the Vladimir region in 1788. On July 16, the ships weighed anchor and left their native Kronstadt to the sound of artillery fire. The expedition was given the task of penetrating as far south as possible in order to finally resolve the issue of the existence of the Southern Continent. Coolness began to be felt in the temperate zone of the southern Atlantic Ocean. The further south you go, the more birds you see, especially petrels. At the end of December, the ships approached the South Georgia Islands, and then, slowly maneuvering between the glaciers, moved forward. Despite the threatening dangers, the ships crossed the Antarctic Circle and on January 28, 1820, in the foggy haze of a cloudy day, travelers saw the edge of continental ice.

In February 1820, the sloops entered the Indian Ocean, trying to break through to the south from this side; they approached the shores of Antarctica two more times, but difficult ice conditions forced the ships to move north again and move east along the edge of the ice. Sailing for a long time in the Pacific Ocean, on January 29, 1821, at 11 o’clock in the afternoon, Bellingshausen finally wrote down in the ship’s log that the crew saw the coast named in honor of Alexander I. Thus the greatest discovery of the 19th century was made. On August 5, 1821, the ships returned to Kronstadt after a two-year voyage.

Almost 100 years after the discovery of Antarctica, on December 14, 1914, the remarkable polar explorer Roald Amundsen discovered the South Pole.
Two expeditions went to the south pole simultaneously - the Norwegian expedition of Amundsen and the English expedition of Robert Scott.
In 1910, Amundsen sailed from Norway to the shores of Antarctica on the ship Fram. In February 1911 he approached the Ross Barrier and spent the winter there. In October, at the beginning of the Antarctic spring, Amundsen and four comrades set off. They had five sleighs, 70 dogs, and a four-month supply of food. Every day the group walked 30 km. On December 14, Roald Amundsen pitched a tent at the South Pole. There he took a photo: expedition members raising the Norwegian flag.

Robert Scott's expedition traveled on pony-drawn sleighs and motorized sleighs, which quickly broke down. The ponies could not cope with the difficult transition, and already halfway there they had to be shot. The expedition moved to the pole for 79 days in harsh conditions and reached it on January 18, 1918. But imagine their disappointment when they saw Amundsen’s tent with the Norwegian flag and the inscription “Welcome”. On the same day, the expedition set off on its return journey, but did not return to its homeland. A tragedy has occurred. All members of the expedition and Scott himself died in the ice from hunger and cold, only 18 km short of reaching the food warehouse. In the diary that Scott kept until the very last day it was written: “... we knew that we were taking a risk. Circumstances were not favorable to us; we have nothing to complain about and can only submit to providence, deciding to wait for the end. I die in peace with myself and with the whole world." (fill out the table, line No. 2).

Glaciologist. Glaciology – the science of ice in all forms of its formation. On a clear sunny day, Antarctica looks majestic and not at all harsh. But this is the cold beauty and deceptive peace of the kingdom of ice and snow frozen in silence. It is called the ice continent.
How much ice is there in Antarctica? Scientists have found that most of the continent is based on the Antarctic Platform, and the entire continent is covered with an ice sheet, the average thickness is 2000 m, and there is 4.5 km. This is the highest continent, taking into account the ice cover, almost 3 times higher. It contains 80% of the Earth's fresh water. The ice sheet resembles a dome, raised in the central part (the profile of the mainland is shown). From the center the ice spreads to the periphery. At the edge it breaks off, forming “icebergs” - ice mountains. They reach enormous sizes. Some icebergs float for up to 10 years. In one of the icy mountains we saw frozen shelves with dishes. These were the remains of an American expedition (demonstration of a presentation created by students on this topic ( Annex 1– only the content of the presentation slides is shown); filling out the table, line No. 3).

Geomorphologist. Geomorphology – the science of the Earth’s surface and its relief.
Modern research methods have made it possible to learn about the subglacial topography of the continent. About 1/3 of it lies below ocean level. Mountain ranges and massifs have been discovered under the ice. Mountains stretch along the Antarctic Peninsula, which serve as a continuation of the Andes of South America. In the western part there is the highest point of 5140 m and the deepest depression - 2555 m below sea level. The surface areas are composed of ancient sediments that are found on other continents that were part of the single ancient continent of Gondwana. Antarctica is part of this continent. Relief features are clearly visible on the profile (Antarctic ice sheet (table).
At the edge of the mainland rises the only active volcano, Erebus. The famous volcanologist Garun Taziev, who conducted research on Erebus in 1974, wrote wonderfully about it.
“The volcano owes its glory, of course, to the fact that nature erected it in inaccessible Antarctica, miles away from inhabited areas. The majesty of the surrounding landscape also plays a significant role. But for us, volcanologists, it is also attractive because it poses a number of questions to which there are no clear answers yet. What explains his continued activity? Why does the viscous lava that feeds Erebus form a lake of liquid melt, instead of solidifying and petrifying in the polar cold? Why, among thousands of active volcanoes on Earth, is only Erebus characterized by such a unique chemical and mineralogical composition of lava? And why this exceptional volcano ended up in an equally exceptional place.” Various minerals (150 names) were found in the depths of the continent: coal, graphite, mica, crystal, iron ores, etc. working with CD-ROM: “Geography. Our home is Earth. Continents. Oceans. Peoples. Countries" pages: "Ice cover", "Continental relief". Fill out the table, line No. 4).

Climatologist. Now the very moment has come when it is necessary to explain why Antarctica is the coldest continent. This is explained:

a) a small angle of incidence of sunlight, which depends on the geographical location of the continent;
b) polar night, during which the continent cools greatly;
c) a huge ice cover (cold reserve) formed during the period of general cooling of the Earth’s climate;
d) high altitude above ocean level;
e) the ability of a white blanket to reflect the sun's rays, 90% of the sun's heat is reflected;
f) a huge difference in temperatures in the interior and coastal parts of the continent, resulting in the formation of katabatic winds blowing at a speed of 360 km/h.

Hurricanes lift 25 million tons of snow, they prevent the formation of warmer air masses from the ocean to the mainland. The climate is very harsh. At the Russian Vostok station the temperature was recorded at 89.2 °C. This is the world's pole of cold. It happened that people froze their corneas (working with CD-ROM: “Geography. Our home is the Earth. Continents. Oceans. Peoples. Countries” page “Climate”. Fill out the table, line No. 5).

Zoobiologist. In Antarctica, among solid ice, there are spaces devoid of ice; they are called oases. Their surface is hilly and covered with stone deposits. There are many lakes of different sizes, the water in some appears green, in others yellow, in others brown. It depends on the algae, there are 700 species of them. The vegetation is represented by mosses and lichens, and bacteria have been found.
The fauna is connected with the waters that wash the continent; they are rich in plankton. Large animals include whales, seals, walruses, fur seals, elephant seals, sea lions, and many birds. Typical inhabitants of Antarctica are penguins; they do not fly, but are excellent swimmers. You can see petrels, cormorants, gulls, and lungs. There is little precipitation in Antarctica, from 50 mm per year in the interior to 100 mm off the coast (demonstration of a presentation created by students on this topic; filling out the table, line No. 6).

The significance of modern research.

In recent years, tourists have begun to come to Antarctica. A hotel, a souvenir shop, and observation decks were built. Ships from different countries constantly approach the shores of Antarctica. About 4,000 tourists come per year. Despite all the exotic nature of such tourist trips, negative facts have appeared: mountains of bottles, bags, boxes, and all kinds of waste accumulate. At such a low temperature, nothing rots and any uncleaned item can lie for centuries.
Air navigation conditions are being studied in Antarctica. In the near future, intercontinental airline routes will run through Antarctica and the continent will become an intermediate base for aircraft maintenance (demonstration of a presentation created by students on this topic; filling out the table, line No. 7).

Leader of the expedition. The continent of Antarctica does not belong to anyone, it is a nuclear-free zone - no one can store or use radioactive substances there, even nuclear-powered ships cannot be used, but only diesel icebreakers.

IV. Reinforcing the material learned

1. Establish the following dependencies: FGP – low air temperature – ice sheet – Earth’s pole of cold – poverty of the organic world.
2. Complete practical task No. 1 on CD-ROM: “Geography. Our home is Earth. Continents. Oceans. Peoples. Countries".
3. Complete the test on CD-ROM: “Geography. Our home is Earth. Continents. Oceans. Peoples. Countries".
4. Complete the task on the board and listen to the finished piece of music (insert words):

Ice mountain... (accumulation of ice)
From... (accumulation of small water particles in
atmosphere) grows up
And he carries it... (water flow)
Through the endless... (water)
It's good for those who know
How dangerous is... (water),
How dangerous is... (water)
(Ice accumulation) oncoming ships.

The result was a poem:

Ice mountain iceberg
Rising out of the fog
And the current carries him
Across the endless seas.
It's good for those who know
How dangerous in the ocean ,
How dangerous in the ocean
Iceberg to oncoming ships.
(“Iceberg”, edited by L. Kozlova.)

V. Lesson summary:

– And at the end of the lesson I would like to sum it up with a short poem:

The whole continent is a solid ice floe,
It’s cold in winter and summer!
Hardening is necessary here!
Take, my friend, the example of a penguin.

VI. Homework

1. Study the paragraphs in the textbook.
2. Fill out the contour map.

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 registered - 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.

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.

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.