Food web of the Arctic
By: Mrs. Sanders
Plankton
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Plankton are microscopic organisms that
float freely with oceanic currents and in
other bodies of water. Plankton is made up
of tiny plants (called phytoplankton) and
tiny animals (called zooplankton).
Phytoplankton: Phytoplankton are
primary producers. As the base of the
oceanic food web, they use chlorophyll to
convert energy (from sunlight), inorganic
chemicals (like nitrogen), and dissolved
carbon dioxide gas into carbohydrates.
Zooplankton: Zooplankton are
microscopic animals that eat other
plankton.
Krill
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Eat Plankton
Krill are small, shrimp-like
crustaceans that swim in the seas.
These pink, translucent animals
congregate in large, dense masses
called "swarms" or "clouds," that turn
areas of the ocean's surface pink. Krill
are very important in the food web
since many animals eat them. There
are about 85 species of krill, ranging in
size from under 0.5 inch (1 cm) up to
5.5 inches (14 cm) long. The dominant
krill in the southern polar oceans is the
Antarctic krill which is up to 2.3
inches (6 cm) long and weighs about
0.035 ounces (1 g). Antarctic krill
have a life span of about 5 to 10 years.
Antarctic Krill is considered to be a
keystone species, an organism upon
which very many Antarctic predators
depend.
Fish & Squid
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Eat Krill
The Squid is an invertebrate
(animal without a backbone) that
swims in the oceans. This mollusk
is closely related to the octopus.
Squid can change the color of their
skin to mimic their environment
and hide from predators.
Squid range from 1 to 60 ft (0.3 to
18 m) long
Fish - Antarctic cod, ice fish,
crocodile fish, dragon fish, robber
fish, rat-tailed fish, hagfish, skates,
eel-pouts, sea snails, and many
others
Penguins
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Eat Fish & Squid
Penguins are birds that cannot fly, but they swim
very well and spend most of their lives in the sea.
There are 17 species of penguin. Feathers:
Penguins have shiny, waterproof feathers that help
keep their skin dry. They have more feathers than
most other birds - about 70 feathers per square inch.
Each year, penguins molt, losing their old feathers
and growing new ones. Some penguins have a
feathery crest.
Anatomy: The Emperor Penguin is the largest
penguin. It is up to 3.7 feet (1.1 m) tall and weighs
up to 65 pounds (30 kg); this is bit less than half the
size of an adult person. Males and females look
very similar. All penguins have a big head, a short,
thick neck, a streamlined shape, a short, wedgeshaped tail, and tiny, flipper-like wings. They have
webbed feet which they use for swimming.
Penguins are counter shaded; they have a lighter
color on the belly and a darker color on their back;
this coloration helps camouflage them when they
are in the water, hiding them from predators.
Habitat: All penguins live in the Southern
Hemisphere (south of the equator). They live in
climates ranging from the warm tropics to the frigid
Antarctic. These defenseless birds usually live on
predator-free islands or on remote parts of a
continent. Some penguins, like the Emperor
Penguin, live on pack ice in Antarctica.
Seals
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Eat Penguins
Seals have a thick layer of insulating
blubber that keeps them warm in cold
water. They also have more blood
(per weight) than most other
mammals, keeping them wellsupplied with oxygen during long
underwater dives. This allows these
carnivores (meat-eaters) to hunt for
their oceanic prey.
Seals are marine mammals who live
mostly in the water but spend some
time on land or ice (usually to
reproduce or rest). Seals include the
true seals and the eared seals.
Whales
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Eat Seals
The Beluga Whale is a toothed
whale that lives in cold Arctic and
sub-Arctic waters. Belugas are very
social animals, congregating in
pods (social groups) of 2-25
whales. They are slow swimmers
who are hunted by killer whales,
polar bears, and people.
The Orca (commonly known as the
Killer Whale) is a toothed whale,
the largest member of the dolphin
family. Orcas live in small, closeknit, life-long pods.
Credits
• Clip Art from Microsoft Clip Gallery online
• Information from
www.enchantedlearning.com
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