Part 2: Threats to the Polar Ecosystem
A polar ecosystem consists of organisms living in environments or regions such as tundra and barren. The polar regions are found in high latitudes in the north and south poles where the temperatures are low (below 10 C). The polar region on the northern pole of the earth is identified as the arctic and includes the Arctic ocean. The polar region on the southern pole of the earth is the Antarctic. Despite the low temperatures associated with these regions, they are inhabited by humans and different animal species as well as plants. Regarding the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystem, some threats face the species residing in these areas. In this case, there are current threats and future threats, for instance, resource exploitation, pollution, oil and gas development, and climate change (Clarke et al, 2008, p. 322). The interaction among these factors threatens the survival of the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems as explored in this paper.
Identification of Current and Future Threats
Climate Change
The impact created by climate change across the world is bound to have a substantive impact on the polar marine ecosystem, especially in the future. According to Clarke and Harris (2003), the greatest concern for the arctic ecosystem is the ecological implications of climate change. This is especially concerning sea ice extent, which is a critical component of the polar marine ecosystem (Clarke and Harris, 2003). The polar ecosystem exists primarily because of the blocks of sea ice that exist in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. These blocks of ice form because of the extremely low temperatures in and around these areas leading to the solidification of ocean and seawater in these regions. It then allows the polar ecosystem to thrive such as polar bears, fish, and even plants found within this ecosystem.
According to Hagen et al (n. d, p. 814: Winkelmann et al, 2015), indicates that in future, the changes in the polar climate will have a direct impact on the great ice sheets, ice caps, as well as glaciers of the polar regions. Nevertheless, there is a high likelihood that increasing temperature over the continent as well as changing storm tracks will cause increased precipitation and thickening of the ice sheet; however, there still exists low confidence in the possibility that the West Antarctic ice sheet will retreat dramatically in the coming centuries. The determinants of the precipitation change and other hydrological components are the changes in weather systems and their tracks (Trenberth 2018; McBride et al., 2014, p. 1935).
Pollution
Pollution threatens the survival of the polar ecosystem. The major source of this pollution is increased human activities, in either the Polar Regions or other parts of the world. For instance, the arctic has industries such as fisheries, tourism, as well as oil, gas, and mineral extraction. These industries contribute primarily to air and water pollution. For instance, greenhouse gases from the combustion of fossil fuel contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. The accumulation of greenhouse gases traps more heat leading to higher temperatures that cause the melting of ice in the Polar Regions. As a result, the water level in the oceans increases thereby affecting marine life. The number of algal toxins, as well as naturally-derived toxic emerging contaminants, can cause the death of aquatic organisms as well as humans who feed on the contaminated fish or seafood (Yanik & Aslan, 2018 p. 355).
Besides, the release of chemicals and untreated water from industries into oceans as well as fuel leaking from ships contributes to the death of aquatic organisms. The marine life in the arctic regions is sustained mostly by the fish species such as capelin and polar cod. Seabirds, whales, and seals feed on these fish, and their death due to water pollution could disrupt the food chain.
Natural Resource Exploitation
Another threat in the polar ecosystem is natural resource exploitation. More importantly, this is a future threat in the Antarctic and the Arctic region. Regarding this, the energy companies and the governments are aware of the presence of the melting ice in the polar region. As such, it is becoming more and more likely that Antarctica will eventually become warmer enough hence being exploited (Clarke et al, 2008, p. 322). The Antarctic may be exploited for things such as minerals and the places like the Arctic will be more enough for oil-drilling on a scale that seems to be massive (Rogers et al, 2020, p. 108). As a result, this will pose an environmental disaster to the arctic and Antarctic regions. In this case, mining, as well as oil drilling, has proven to be everywhere in the world, for instance, from Africa to Europe, and from the Amazon to the Appalachian mountains among others (Hassan, 2013, p. 123: Mustafa, 2016, p. 61). In the future, the inevitable large oil spills occurring in the Arctic and Antarctic region will kill countless marine, land as well as avian creatures.
Oil and Gas Exploration
The Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems are also threatened by the exploration of oil and gas, which involves offshore drilling. The activities lead to increased release of fossil oil into the water. Besides the combustion of fossil fuel leads to the formation of acid rainfall, that acidifies water in the oceans. Increased ocean acidification and reduced oxygen levels in water due to spilled oil or turbidity cause the death of marine organisms.
Comparing and Critically Assessing the Relative Importance and Severity of the Threats
The major impact of the identified threats will be a disruption in the food chain, which could hinder the survival of the polar ecosystem. Mckie (2017) exposes how the disappearance of sea ice in the Arctic region because of the effects of global warming will affect the polar ecosystem. Mckie states that over 2 million square kilometers of midwinter sea ice have disappeared from the arctic in less than 40 years (2017). This disappearance of sea ice is a major source of concern not just for biologists but also for anyone interested in the healthy survival of the planet (Mckie, 2017). With the current trend of rising carbon emissions across the world, it is only logical then to expect that the effects of global warming will increase significantly over the coming years.
The effects of climate change effects on the polar ecosystem can also be seen in future threats to the live marine arctic resources brought about by warmer temperatures in the arctic. The freezing temperatures in the polar regions especially the arctic have served as a major protection for the polar ecosystem with the live marine species found in the area being spared from external threats. This has ensured a balanced food chain is maintained in the polar ecosystem. However, climate change effects mean that the arctic region will record warmer temperatures in the future. According to De Rivera et al. (2007), warmer climates in the arctic and sub-arctic waters could lead to marine invasive species such as crabs moving to these waters. De Rivera et al. state that the changes in water temperature levels do not have to be as dramatic with just a small increase in water temperatures enough to promote the migration of these marine invasive species (2007). Once such species move to the arctic regions, it will result in major changes to the polar ecosystem with most of the species that have existed in isolation with the rest of the polar ecosystem now under major threat from the invasive marine species. This will cause a significant reduction in the original polar marine species and significantly alter the state of the polar ecosystem in the arctic.
Besides the rising temperature affecting the weather and terrain, they also have a significant impact on wildlife. As changes in temperatures occur, many species migrate further to the northern part of the region where there are cool temperatures. These areas receive new species of animals and organisms. However, not all animals have the capacity to migrate. Additionally, the clean air in the Antarctica, water, soil, as well as ice, is of utmost importance to science for understanding how the environment is changing naturally and because of this, human activities have been contaminated as a result of the incessant influx of the tourists. The tourists visit the region without appropriate kitting as well as behaviors including uncontrolled disposals of items that are used, for example, glasses, food, woods, and chemicals (Abubakar, 2016, p. 8). These items are discharged to the rivers and seas in the polar areas. As a result, the marine species will suffocate due to increased acidity from the chemicals disposed of. The polar ecosystems have a short food chain and food web. Therefore, when marine species such as the fish and shellfish get extinct, the whole food chain will be affected hence many living organisms will perish. Nevertheless, in these poles, the species such as the penguins have been threatened; therefore, their populations have drastically reduced. According to many scientists, they reveal that the population of polar bears will be lower in the future. According to Rusoke (2017, p. 4), it is evident that extreme climate events have major impacts on the spread of infectious diseases in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
Although many scientists posit that human activity is directly responsible for causing climate change, the primary cause is the burning of fossil fuels, which results in the accumulation of greenhouse gases. Regarding this, oil burning, coal burning as well as a gas burning always traps heat in the atmosphere; hence, increasing temperatures, therefore, it causes glaciers and ice sheets to melt. On the other hand, drilling of fossil fuels is a significant contributor to the climatic change (Koyama, 2017, p. 80: Lincoln, 2005, p. 622). Through this process, methane gas is emitted which eventually locks in heat more effectively than carbon dioxide. Nevertheless, the glacial melt is important since the ice melt exposes the earth beneath. More importantly, the glaciers absorb approximately 20 % of the heat from the sun and reflect the remaining heat. However, if the earth is exposed, the glacier reflects less heat, trapping more warmth in the atmosphere. In nature, carbon IV oxide is exchanged between the atmosphere, plants animals through photosynthesis, respiration, as well as decomposition. A small amount of carbon IV oxide is also emitted in volcanic eruptions. Therefore, this is balanced by an equivalent amount that is removed by chemical weathering of rocks (Cicerone, & Nurse, n. d, p. 6).
In the Arctic, air pollution can have adverse effects on climate, ecosystems, and health, whilst air pollutants originate from mid-latitude anthropogenic emission regions in Asia, Europe, and North America (Hassan, 2013, p. 123: Mustafa, 2016, p. 61). Besides, warming in the Arctic combined with favorable economic conditions may lead to further industrial development in the Arctic. For instance, it includes increasing possibilities for transport through the northern sea routes, resource extraction, and associated infrastructure developments as well as urbanization (Law et al, 2017. p. 453). The increase in global warming leads to high water availability. The availability of enough water increases the survival chances of the new aquatic species and the existing fish population. As a result, it replenishes the ecosystem. For these reasons, human beings must do their part to help in reducing the causes as well as the effect of pollution. Furthermore, human beings must understand how their actions impact the environment and what they can do to reduce the carbon footprint. For example, choosing to drive less as a step towards changing habits as well as limiting the effects on the environment. As a society, renewable sources of energy must be developed. More importantly, adaptation will be necessary to address impacts resulting from the warming that is already unavoidable because of past emissions. Some adaptations occurring now, although on a limited basis, and more is needed in the reduction of vulnerability to climate change.
Conclusion
The polar areas, the arctic on the northern part, and the Antarctic on the southern region, experience low temperatures which pose a great effect on marine life. These effects include climate changes, pollution, as well as natural resource exploitation. Regarding the climatic changes, as the oceans get hotter, the changes in water temperature affect the environments where fish, shellfish, and other marine species live. Due to this, some species can adapt through shifting towards cooler areas. Nevertheless, the oceans are becoming more acidic. The acidity of water in the seas is increasing as a result of increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the air from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide dissolves in water hence making seawater more acidic.
Marine pollution affects marine species. For instance, the dumping of plastics by human beings not only harms marine life but also humanity. More importantly, the plastic kills fish, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Furthermore, it destroys the habitats as well as affecting the mating patterns of the animals. As a result, it has devastating consequences and can wipe out the entire species. Natural resource exploitation accompanies environmental degradation. The non-renewable resource that is exploited by human beings is subsoil minerals like metals that are used in the production industry. Moreover, an example of a mode of production that mostly hinders various aspects of the natural environment is intensive agriculture. As such, the degradation of forests in the terrestrial ecosystem and water pollution in the aquatic ecosystem is a good example of natural resource exploitation. Additionally, irrational land reclamation, overfishing as well as vigorous development of heavy industry aiming at growing the economy results in a large number of untreated industrial and domestic sewage. The wastes are deposited in the sea hence hindering the lifespan of the marine species.