Antarctica
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flora
and fauna
Flora
More than
200 species of lichens are known in Antarctica.
Main article: Antarctic flora
The climate of Antarctica
does not allow extensive vegetation. A combination of freezing temperatures,
poor soil quality, lack of moisture, and lack of sunlight inhibit the
flourishing of plants. As a result, plant life is limited to mostly mosses and liverworts.
The autotrophic community is made up of mostly protists. The flora of the
continent largely consists of lichens, bryophytes, algae, and fungi. Growth
generally occurs in the summer, and only for a few weeks at most.
There are more than 200
species of lichens and approximately 50 species of bryophytes, such as mosses. Seven
hundred species of algae exist, most of which are phytoplankton. Multicolored snow
algae and diatoms are especially abundant in the coastal regions during the
summer. There are two species of flowering plants found in the Antarctic
Peninsula: Deschampsia antarctica (Antarctic hair grass) and Colobanthus
quitensis (Antarctic pearlwort).[27]
Fauna
Land fauna is nearly
completely invertebrate. Invertebrate life includes microscopic mites, lice, nematodes,
tardigrades, rotifers, krill, and springtails. The flightless midge Belgica
antarctica, just 12 mm in size, is the largest land animal in Antarctica. The
Snow Petrel is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in Antarctica and
have been seen at the South Pole.
Emperor
Penguins in Ross Sea, Antarctica.
A variety of marine animals
exist and rely, directly or indirectly, on the phytoplankton. Antarctic sea
life includes penguins, blue whales, and fur seals. The Emperor penguin is the
only penguin that breeds during the winter in Antarctica, while the Adélie
Penguin breeds farther south than any other penguin. The Rockhopper penguin has
distinctive feathers around the eyes, giving the appearance of elaborate
eyelashes. King penguins, Chinstrap penguins, and Gentoo Penguins also breed in
the Antarctic.
The Antarctic fur seal was
very heavily hunted in the 18th and 19th centuries for its pelt by sealers from
the United States and the United Kingdom. The Weddell Seal, a "true seal",
is named after Sir James Weddell, commander of British sealing expeditions in
the Weddell Sea. Antarctic krill, which congregates in large schools, is the keystone
species of the ecosystem of the Southern Ocean, and is an important food
organism for whales, seals, leopard seals, fur seals, squid, icefish, penguins,
albatrosses and many other birds.[28]
The passing of the Antarctic
Conservation Act in the U.S. brought several restrictions to U.S. activity on
the continent. The introduction of alien plants or animals can bring a criminal
penalty, as can the extraction of any indigenous species. The overfishing of
krill, which plays a large role in the Antarctic ecosystem, led officials to
enact regulations on fishing. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), a treaty that came into force in 1980,
requires that regulations managing all Southern Ocean fisheries consider
potential effects on the entire Antarctic ecosystem.[24]
Despite these new acts, unregulated and illegal fishing, particularly of Patagonian
toothfish, remains a serious problem. The illegal fishing of toothfish has been
increasing, with estimates of 32,000 tonnes in 2000.[29][30]
Politics
Resupply by
the Uruguayan Navy vessel 'Vanguardia'.
As the only uninhabited
continent, Antarctica has no government and belongs to no country. Various
countries claim areas of it. The area between 90°W and 150°W is the only part
of Antarctica, indeed the only solid land on Earth, not claimed by any country.[24]
Since 1959, claims on
Antarctica have been suspended and the continent is considered politically
neutral. Its status is regulated by the 1959 Antarctic Treaty and other related
agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System. For the purposes
of the Treaty System, Antarctica is defined as all land and ice shelves south
of 60°S. The treaty was signed by 12 countries, including the Soviet Union and
the United States. It set aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve,
established freedom of scientific investigation, environmental protection, and
banned military activity on that continent. This was the first arms control
agreement established during the Cold War.
The Antarctic Treaty prohibits
any military activity in Antarctica, such as the establishment of military
bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military manoeuvers, or the
testing of any type of weapon. Military personnel or equipment are only
permitted for scientific research or for other peaceful purposes.[31] The only documented land military manoeuvre was Operation
NINETY, undertaken by the Argentine military.[32]
The United States military
issues the Antarctica Service Medal to military members or civilians who
perform research duty on the Antarctica continent. The medal includes a
"wintered over" bar issued to those who remain on the continent for
two complete six-month seasons.[33]
Antarctic territories
Territorial
claims of Antarctica.
Country
Territory
Claim limits
Date
Argentina
Argentine
Antarctica
to
1943
Australia
Australian
Antarctic Territory
to
and to
1933
Chile
Antarctic
Chilean Territory
to
1940
France
Adélie Land
to
1924
New Zealand
Ross
Dependency
to
1923
Norway
Queen
Maud Land
to
1939
Peter I
Island
1929
United Kingdom
British
Antarctic Territory
to
1908
NONE
Unclaimed
territory
to
The Argentine, British and
Chilean claims all overlap. Australia has the greatest claim of Antarctic
territory.
Germany also maintained a
claim to Antarctica, known as New Swabia, between 1939 and 1945. It was
situated from to , overlapping Norway's claim.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antarctica&action=history
Flora
and fauna
Flora
More than
200 species of lichens are known in Antarctica.
Main article: Antarctic flora
The climate of Antarctica
does not allow extensive vegetation. A combination of freezing temperatures,
poor soil quality, lack of moisture, and lack of sunlight inhibit the
flourishing of plants. As a result, plant life is limited to mostly mosses and liverworts.
The autotrophic community is made up of mostly protists. The flora of the
continent largely consists of lichens, bryophytes, algae, and fungi. Growth
generally occurs in the summer, and only for a few weeks at most.
There are more than 200
species of lichens and approximately 50 species of bryophytes, such as mosses. Seven
hundred species of algae exist, most of which are phytoplankton. Multicolored snow
algae and diatoms are especially abundant in the coastal regions during the
summer. There are two species of flowering plants found in the Antarctic
Peninsula: Deschampsia antarctica (Antarctic hair grass) and Colobanthus
quitensis (Antarctic pearlwort).[27]
Fauna
Land fauna is nearly
completely invertebrate. Invertebrate life includes microscopic mites, lice, nematodes,
tardigrades, rotifers, krill, and springtails. The flightless midge Belgica
antarctica, just 12 mm in size, is the largest land animal in Antarctica. The
Snow Petrel is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in Antarctica and
have been seen at the South Pole.
Emperor
Penguins in Ross Sea, Antarctica.
A variety of marine animals
exist and rely, directly or indirectly, on the phytoplankton. Antarctic sea
life includes penguins, blue whales, and fur seals. The Emperor penguin is the
only penguin that breeds during the winter in Antarctica, while the Adélie
Penguin breeds farther south than any other penguin. The Rockhopper penguin has
distinctive feathers around the eyes, giving the appearance of elaborate
eyelashes. King penguins, Chinstrap penguins, and Gentoo Penguins also breed in
the Antarctic.
The Antarctic fur seal was
very heavily hunted in the 18th and 19th centuries for its pelt by sealers from
the United States and the United Kingdom. The Weddell Seal, a "true seal",
is named after Sir James Weddell, commander of British sealing expeditions in
the Weddell Sea. Antarctic krill, which congregates in large schools, is the keystone
species of the ecosystem of the Southern Ocean, and is an important food
organism for whales, seals, leopard seals, fur seals, squid, icefish, penguins,
albatrosses and many other birds.[28]
The passing of the Antarctic
Conservation Act in the U.S. brought several restrictions to U.S. activity on
the continent. The introduction of alien plants or animals can bring a criminal
penalty, as can the extraction of any indigenous species. The overfishing of
krill, which plays a large role in the Antarctic ecosystem, led officials to
enact regulations on fishing. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), a treaty that came into force in 1980,
requires that regulations managing all Southern Ocean fisheries consider
potential effects on the entire Antarctic ecosystem.[24]
Despite these new acts, unregulated and illegal fishing, particularly of Patagonian
toothfish, remains a serious problem. The illegal fishing of toothfish has been
increasing, with estimates of 32,000 tonnes in 2000.[29][30]
Politics
Resupply by
the Uruguayan Navy vessel 'Vanguardia'.
As the only uninhabited
continent, Antarctica has no government and belongs to no country. Various
countries claim areas of it. The area between 90°W and 150°W is the only part
of Antarctica, indeed the only solid land on Earth, not claimed by any country.[24]
Since 1959, claims on
Antarctica have been suspended and the continent is considered politically
neutral. Its status is regulated by the 1959 Antarctic Treaty and other related
agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System. For the purposes
of the Treaty System, Antarctica is defined as all land and ice shelves south
of 60°S. The treaty was signed by 12 countries, including the Soviet Union and
the United States. It set aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve,
established freedom of scientific investigation, environmental protection, and
banned military activity on that continent. This was the first arms control
agreement established during the Cold War.
The Antarctic Treaty prohibits
any military activity in Antarctica, such as the establishment of military
bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military manoeuvers, or the
testing of any type of weapon. Military personnel or equipment are only
permitted for scientific research or for other peaceful purposes.[31] The only documented land military manoeuvre was Operation
NINETY, undertaken by the Argentine military.[32]
The United States military
issues the Antarctica Service Medal to military members or civilians who
perform research duty on the Antarctica continent. The medal includes a
"wintered over" bar issued to those who remain on the continent for
two complete six-month seasons.[33]
Antarctic territories
Territorial
claims of Antarctica.
|
Country |
Territory |
Claim limits |
Date |
|
|
Argentine
Antarctica |
to |
1943 |
|
|
Australian
Antarctic Territory |
to
and to |
1933 |
|
|
Antarctic
Chilean Territory |
to |
1940 |
|
|
Adélie Land |
to |
1924 |
|
|
Ross
Dependency |
to |
1923 |
|
|
Queen
Maud Land |
to |
1939 |
|
Peter I
Island |
|
1929 |
|
|
|
British
Antarctic Territory |
to |
1908 |
|
NONE |
Unclaimed
territory |
to |
|
The Argentine, British and
Chilean claims all overlap. Australia has the greatest claim of Antarctic
territory.
Germany also maintained a
claim to Antarctica, known as New Swabia, between 1939 and 1945. It was
situated from to , overlapping Norway's claim.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antarctica&action=history