A
What percentage of the world's ice is contained within the Antarctic ice sheet?
Approx. 90%
What percentage of Earth's total freshwater is found in Antarctica?
Approx 70%
What microscopic organisms serve as the primary producers in the Antarctic food web?
Phytoplankton
How much solar radiation can ice and snow reflect back into space?
Upto 90%
In what year was the Antarctic Treaty signed?
1959
Which primary consumer in the Southern Ocean converts plant energy from phytoplankton into animal protein?
Antarctic Krill
If the West Antarctic Ice Sheet melted completely, by how many meters would global sea levels rise?
Approx 3 - 5 meters
The process where ice and snow reflect sunlight back into space is known as the _____.
Albedo Effect
Why do Emperor Penguins require stable sea ice from April to December?
They need it to successfully breed and raise their chicks.
For what three main commercial purposes are Antarctic krill harvested?
Fish feed, omega-3 supplements, and aquaculture.
Which fish species is a primary target of illegal fishing in Antarctica, often sold as 'Chilean sea bass'?
Patagonian toothfish.
What is a negative environmental consequence of illegal longline fishing for Patagonian toothfish?
It catches protected species like albatrosses as bycatch.
How does the Antarctic Treaty handle territorial claims by different nations?
It freezes all claims; no new claims are allowed, and existing ones are neither recognized nor denied.
Term for: A species with a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem, such as Antarctic Krill.
Keytone Species
Why is heavy fuel oil used by ships particularly dangerous in Antarctic waters?
It is highly toxic and extremely difficult to clean up in cold water.
Approximately how many whales were killed in the Southern Ocean during the historical whaling period between 1900 and 1970?
Over 1.5 million
What scientific value do Antarctic ice cores provide for climate research?
They reveal up to 800,000 years of climate history to help predict future changes.
The Antarctic food web is described as _____ because it has few species and energy flows through a simple structure.
Remarkably Simple
Term for : Non-native organisms that disrupt natural communities by competing with native species.
Invasive Species
What is the primary focus of the 1991 Madrid Protocol?
Environmental protection and designating Antarctica as a natural reserve.