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Antarctic Biology
last update: Jul 19, 2007 11:58 AM
The fact that the Antarctic ecosystems are simpler than the ecosystems that we are used to, makes it ideal for biological research. The conditions in Antarctica are so harsh, that very few life forms survive above the ice. It is much different under the ice, however. Ocean life is rich and complex. Antarctica has many resources that are of high commercial value, for example fish, krill and squid. Many organisms living in the Antarctic live at the limit of survival and are indicators of global environmental changes.
The extreme cold and extreme seasonal and daily light cycles, help biologists to study the evolution of organisms living in Antarctica. These three features affect adaptation and survival strategies in many organisms, which is exactly what biologists are interested in.
