1. POLAR SEAS
Because the water is cold, oxygen is rich.
The summer season, with increased light availability, has phytoplankton blooms. Upwelling is frequent due to high winds over low terrain.

2. Short food chains yield high productivity and high population density.
The dominant phytoplankton are diatoms and dominant zooplankton are krill.
NOAA
NOAA
Short food chains yield high productivity and high population density.
However, the number of species is low as short food chains do not allow for diverse niches.

3. Remember when it is winter in the North pole, it is summer
The North and South poles are very different communities, but they do share the same unusual seasons.
Both have winter months of nearly 24 hours of darkness followed by summers of nearly 24 hours of light.
NASA
Remember when it is winter in the North pole, it is summer
in the South pole.

4. Comparison of the Poles
NORTH POLE
SOUTH POLE
ocean ecosystem with
tall, jagged icebergs
land ecosystem with a smooth, flat ice cap

5. Comparison of the Poles
NORTH POLE
SOUTH POLE
average temperatures:
winter -30o F
summer 32o F
average temperatures: winter -78o F
summer -20o F
Siberian record - 92o F
Vostok record -128o (1983)
Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walrus) polar bears, no penguins
Pinnipeds, penguins, no walrus, no bears