Arctic and Antarctic: two different worlds

Science · Polar Regions · ages 9-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which organisms make food using sunlight at the start of both polar ocean food webs?
- Krill and copepods
- Phytoplankton and ice algae
- Seals and fish
Which polar region has native land mammals such as caribou and Arctic foxes?
- The Arctic region
- Antarctica
- Both polar regions
Mites and springtails are animals found on Antarctic land.
Circle one: True False
Which pair names small animals that eat tiny producers and pass food to larger animals in the two polar oceans?
- Southern Ocean: krill; Arctic: copepods
- Southern Ocean: seals; Arctic: foxes
- Southern Ocean: penguins; Arctic: seals
A visitor asks how a year-round Antarctic research station differs from an Indigenous permanent settlement. Which statement describes the station?
- Only scientists staff the stations, and all leave before winter.
- Station staff obtain their food and materials from nearby land.
- Scientists and support staff use imported supplies through winter.
In an Arctic area, sea ice disappears earlier in spring. Why can this make it harder for polar bears to get food?
- They eat sea ice as their main food
- They have less sea ice from which to hunt seals
- They can only catch seals while standing on Arctic tundra
Why can changes in sea ice and food supplies put polar ecosystems at risk?
- Animals may lose the ice habitats or food supplies they depend on.
- All polar animals can move to warmer places.
- Every polar food web has just one path, so all animals eat the same food.
Maya says, 'Antarctica has no native land mammals, so its ocean cannot support animals.' Which statement corrects her conclusion?
- Antarctic penguins, seals and whales need land mammals as their food.
- Antarctic ocean animals feed on plants growing on the continent's land.
- Antarctic ocean food webs support penguins, seals and whales without land mammals.

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Arctic and Antarctic: two different worlds W1-mt_kOYw43NPzr-s1

Phytoplankton and ice algae · Phytoplankton and ice algae make food using sunlight. Krill, copepods, fish and seals get food by eating other living things.
The Arctic region · Caribou and Arctic foxes are native Arctic land mammals. Antarctica has small land animals, but no native land mammals.
True · Antarctica has small land animals, including mites and springtails.
Southern Ocean: krill; Arctic: copepods · Krill eat phytoplankton, and copepods eat algae and phytoplankton. Both pass food to larger animals. The other pairs include seals or penguins, which eat other animals rather than tiny producers.
Scientists and support staff use imported supplies through winter. · A year-round Antarctic research station can be staffed through winter by scientists and support staff using imported supplies. Antarctica has no Indigenous permanent settlements.
They have less sea ice from which to hunt seals · Polar bears use sea ice as a platform to hunt seals. If it disappears earlier, they may have less time to hunt from it.
Animals may lose the ice habitats or food supplies they depend on. · Animals adapted to cold or dependent on ice can lose habitat or food. A decline in a food source may also affect animals that eat it. Effects vary across food webs.
Antarctic ocean food webs support penguins, seals and whales without land mammals. · Maya incorrectly uses the absence of native land mammals to rule out ocean animals. The lesson names penguins, seals and whales supported by Antarctic ocean food webs.