Polar Ecosystems Compared

Description

Compare Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems — the Arctic has both terrestrial (tundra) and marine ecosystems supporting large land mammals and indigenous human communities, while the Antarctic is almost entirely marine-based with virtually no land plants or mammals; both regions have short, intense food chains anchored by phytoplankton and krill, and both are disproportionately affected by climate change and human activity

Mastery Evidence

• ✓ Compare Arctic (terrestrial + marine, land mammals, human communities) with Antarctic (almost entirely marine, no land mammals)
• ✓ Explain that both polar food chains depend on phytoplankton and krill at the base
• ✓ Describe why polar ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change (short food chains, specialised organisms)