Krill: The Heart Of Antarctica
...toplankton – tiny organisms. They swarm together in massive shoals. Krill plays a key role in the Antarctic food web as many creatures such as the whales, crab-eater seal, small fish, birds, squid and the Adelie penguin eat it as it is an excellent source of nutrition. Krill pays a vital role in the Antarctic ecosystem as it is such an important food source. If the krill were to become extinct there would probably be a chain reaction with many other creatures facing extinction as well. Current Situation: Antarctica may seem like a deserted, clean and untouched place by man. Unfortunately this is not the case. There are some threats to Antarctica and the krill; • Tourism. Increasing rates of tourism is disturbing habitats and creating pollution. • Global warming. The greenhouse effect will increase ocean temperatures. • Fishing. Fishing and over fishing in the area could have an impact on the balance of the environment. • Mining. Disturbing habitats and creating pollution. • Ozone layer depletion. More UV rays hitting the Earth surface which could kill the phytoplankton. These are all substantial threats that could really harm Antarctica and the krill. Recommendations: To minimise the above threats I would like to make the following recommendations: • Ban tourism all together. Stoping tourist going to Antarctica which will stop the disturbance of animals and pollution. • The establishment of very l...