peril at the poles
DESCRIPTION
The Effects of Global Warming on Marine Ecosystems at the Poles. Peril at the Poles. By: Amber Mueller. Global Warming:. the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near-surface air and oceans due to the increase of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, and its projected continuation. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Effects of Global Warming on Marine Ecosystems at the Poles
By: Amber Mueller
![Page 2: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Global Warming:
the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near-surface air and oceans due to the increase of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, and its projected continuation
![Page 3: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
The Poles:
Includes:the Arctic – Arctic Ocean, parts of Canada, Greenland, Russia, the U.S(Alaska), Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland
And the Antarctic – Surrounded by the Southern Sea Protected by the Antarctic Treaty
![Page 4: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
The Cryosphere:
Portions of the Earth’s surface where water is in solid form
Importance? Ice reflects sunlight, keeping temps
BUT when the ice melts, water absorbs 4 times as much light, heating the ice in the water and thus heating the poles and destroying the Cyosphere
![Page 5: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Water, Water, EVERYWHERE! Semi-frozen ice in combo with salt
water edge promotes remarkable growth of microscopic plankton = base of ecosystem
Thrive under ice (only) Food source for Krill
The Southern Ocean
I RULE YOU ALL!
![Page 6: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
The Great Southern Ocean
Krill cash cow ($$$) 60-70% of southern hemisphere krill pop
Before 1939- stable krill pop Since 1976- nearly 40% decrease per
decade
![Page 7: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Chain of Life…
![Page 8: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Increase of Jelly-like Salps modest dietary
needs
devoid of nutrients
not a food source to any marine birds or mammals
![Page 9: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Say Goodbye..
“Penguins, albatrosses, seals and whales are prone to krill shortages”- Atkinson
![Page 10: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Ice and Krill
sea ice volume was stable between 1840 and 1950
began decreasing after that -20%
krill pop numbers coincided climate change is a profound threat to
the most productive ocean in the world.
![Page 11: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Impact?
Emperor penguin population is half of what it was thirty years ago
Adelie penguins have declined 70%.
![Page 12: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Impact… southern right
whales need to feed on winter krill in order to have energy to swim to mating grounds
humpback whales, seals, and penguins will be on the verge of extinction
![Page 13: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
A Sea of Jelly Salps!!!
![Page 14: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
The Arctic: Home of about 4 million better
studied
Winters in Alaska are 4-5 degrees warmer than they were 30 years ago
![Page 15: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Visible Changes
Atlantic hair grass is growing at higher altitudes
spruce bark beetle killed 40 million trees in southern Alaska
Worst insect destruction in NA history
Forest Encroachment Overall decrease in population of
Birds and Mammals
![Page 16: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
The Spruce Beetle:
Population is usually controlled by cold winters
Mild temperatures allow the species to survive and destroy
![Page 17: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
More Bugs…
Spruce budworms are also a threat
female budworms lay 50% more eggs at 77 degrees than at 59 degrees.
![Page 18: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
The Arctic Climate Impact
2004- the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
As the forest encroaches northward to the Arctic Sea the tundra will be destroyed
Predicted that at least 50% of suitable habitat will be lost by the end of the century
![Page 19: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Bye Bye Birdie
Several hundred million birds migrate to the treeless tundra to breed
When the tundra is gone great flocks will be destroyed
![Page 20: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
The Collard Lemming Represent winter
endurance and resilience superbly adapted to life
in cryosphere Only rodents whose coat
turns white in winter and claws turn to two-pronged shovels for snow tunneling
habitat the tundra they will go extinct by end of century
![Page 21: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Impact on Caribou: increase in rain causes lichens (their
food source) to freeze over changed snowfall patterns kill calves
as they try to migrate
numbers have dropped from plentiful 26,000 in 1961 to 1,000 in 1997
![Page 22: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
The Ringed Seal most abundant mammal in far north
yet if the temp isn’t cold enough for snow to fall they cant make their dens cant breed
many have left for Siberia leaving the polar bears to starve
![Page 23: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
More Seals…
Harp seals are similar
the number of ice free years often exceeds the female reproductive life
Gulf of St. Lawrence population is almost extinct with no hope of recovery.
Ringed, ribbon, bearded seals, and walrus all live under the same threat
![Page 24: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
The Great Nanuk
can survive at the harshest of temperatures
Have been spotted within 100 miles from the true North pole!
Only thing that stops them is lack of food
![Page 25: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Polar Bears: long term study of 1,200 individuals average of 15% skinnier than a
decade ago feeding season has become too short potential food has migrated Each year starving females give birth
to fewer cubs
![Page 26: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Polar Bear Breeding Twenty years ago a mother could support
triplets and about half of all cubs born survived
Now the survival ratio is 1:20
Increasing winter rains collapse dens killing mothers and cubs
![Page 27: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
More Threats:
Early break up of ice can separate denning and feeding areas b/c most cubs can’t swim far enough
![Page 28: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Who Cares? Usually a healthy, well fed polar bear
eats the fat off a seal, leaving the rest to the arctic fox, the raven, Thayer’s and ivory gulls
some parts of the year these animals depend solely on polar bears scraps
![Page 29: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Chain, Chain, Chain…
Ivory Gulls have decreased in pop 90% over last 20 years due to habitat disappearance and lack of food
![Page 30: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
What does all of this Mean?The Arctic Realm will be replaced
by polar deserts and encroaching forests
more forests = more heat they will trap (ice reflects light, trees absorb light ) which will heat the planet ever more swiftly
![Page 31: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Going, Going, Gone
The Cryosphere will vanish and with it all the animals of the Arctic and Antarctic will become extinct.
![Page 32: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
UNLESS WE DO
SOMETHING ABOUT
IT!
![Page 33: Peril at the Poles](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022051218/56815dba550346895dcbe782/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)