Abiotic Factors
This is a significant challenge for life in the polar regions, requiring adaptations like insulation and specialized diets?
Extreme Cold
A polar bear hunting a seal on the ice is an example of what type of biotic interaction?
predation
A musk or Caribou are an example of what
A Herbivore
This type of ice, crucial for the polar ecosystem, forms in the oceans and provides habitat and food for many animals.
Sea Ice
This term refers to the warming of our planet, primarily due to the buildup of greenhouse gases.
Global warming
What is the name for the permanently frozen ground found in the polar ice regions?
Permafrost
What name is given to the relationship between two species, where one benefits and the other is harmed?
parasitism
What are the primary prey of seals, a crucial link in the polar ice food chain, often hunted on the ice and in the water?
Fish
What benefits do other ecosystems and humans get from the polar ice biome and its resources?
it supports diverse wildlife, regulates climate, and offers resources like fresh water and fishing grounds.
Name a major consequence of reduced sea ice for the Arctic ecosystem, particularly for marine animals like polar bears.
Habitat loss
What is the main abiotic factor that greatly limits plant growth in the polar ice biome?
cold temperatures
A polar ecosystem with a large population of seals could affect the population size of what other biotic factor, a predator?
Polar Bear
What tiny, shrimp-like creatures form the primary base of the Antarctic food chain, often consumed by larger animals?
Krill
What is the approximate number of years it takes for the Arctic sea ice to drift from the Arctic Basin to the Atlantic Ocean?
2-5 years
Which human activity has been identified as contributing to the shrinking of seasonal sea ice in the Arctic?
Industrial Activity
What is the term for the saltiness of the ocean, which is an important abiotic factor in the polar ice biome?
salinity
This type of fish is found in the Arctic Ocean, adapted to the frigid temperatures and with an almost translucent body?
Artic cod
How does ocean acidification impact shelled plankton that are a vital food source?
Makes its harder for shelled plankton to forma and maintain their shells
What type of skin do polar bears have that allows them to retain warmth in extremely cold conditions?
Black Skin
What is the term for the area of polar ice that is disappearing at a faster rate than predicted?
Sea Ice
This abiotic factor creates a challenging environment for marine life, impacting ice algae and the creatures that feed on them?
Low Salinity
What type of plant is often seen in polar regions, adapted to survive in harsh conditions with limited sunlight and nutrients?
Moss
How does melting ice affect food chains
Nutrients they contain run into the ocean and fertilize local algal blooms
How do polar bears use their fur to stay warm in the cold conditions of their habitat?
Their fur is insulating and can trap air, helping them retain body heat.
Name a specific example of how human activities, like oil drilling, have directly impacted wildlife in the Arctic.
Disruption of marine life due to oil spills