antarctica – Migrations of a bird nerd

This weekend we did some information collecting in an effort to get more prepared and excited for the big trip to Antarctica! The Field Museum in Chicago had a temporary exhibit on Antarctic Dinosaurs. The exhibit was in its final weekend at the Field Museum, but if you ever have a chance to see it somewhere, I highly recommend it! It was really well done and very informative. It also covered many aspects of life on Antarctica (past, present, and future), which I will try to summarize quickly here. PS. We also saw a 3D movie about Antarctica, which was slightly depressing (re: climate change), but I’m also still in disbelief that I’ll actually be there and see it in person. That’s just a thing that happens in books and on TV, right??

Pangaea

Antarctica wasn’t always a chilly, frozen continent at the bottom of planet Earth. About 175 million years ago, the supercontinent of Pangaea began to split up into the continents we know and love today. Scientists have found fossils from plants (like the Glossopteris tree) and multiple dinosaurs on Antarctica that match those found on other continents that were once adjacent. The shifting of tectonic plates separated the continents and widened the oceans between them. However, from the fossil records we can see that Antarctica wasn’t always frozen and barren! It once held rich life and a more temperate climate.

Antarctica moving its way down to the south pole.

But wait! Antarctica once had plants with leaves??

Dinosaurs

Turns out not only did Antarctica once have temperate plants, but it also had animals! There were even amphibians that wouldn’t stand a chance in today’s cold temperatures. The museum had many fossils of plants, early animals, and dinosaurs that were found in Antarctica and other parts of Pangaea. The first fossils were found in Antarctica during 1990 – 1991, so we are still learning about the fauna and flora of Antarctica as a temperate continent.

Here are some of the animals (and one plant) that once lived on Antarctica. The colors of the blobs behind the creatures corresponds to the colored line on the map above.

A lifelike model of one of the salamander-esque creatures *(Antarctosuchus)* that once roamed Antarctica.

This cast was made of a Cryolophosaurus skeleton found on Antarctica.

Cryolophosaurus – Based on similarities in bone structures found in modern day cassowaries (bird), scientists believe the crown on this dino’s head was used for show and was not strong enough for battle or other purposes. They also believe it had similar coloring to cassowaries!

We touched a real fossil found in Antarctica! (Don’t worry, it was not against the rules and was even encouraged!) Archaeologists have a very involved process for how to extract fossils from the very tough rocks of the mountains of Antarctica. They need lots of patience and probably lots of podcasts. I wonder what they listen to…

Why is Antarctica so cold?

After Pangaea split up and Antarctica started moving south, the shape and nature of the oceans also changed, which influenced the ocean currents. Much of today’s weather patterns are determined by ocean currents and where warm and cold water is moving. When the gap between Antarctica and South America and Australia grew, one of the warm ocean currents changed to instead loop fully around the Antarctic continent. Instead of bringing warm water to the shores of Antarctica, the new path of the current actually pushed other warm water currents away from the continent, cooling it down, and encouraging the formation of today’s glaciers. As you can imagine, the entire landscape felt that change! Now the only plants that grow in Antarctica are lichens, and two vascular plants (Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort). Animals cannot live in the inner part of the continent since there is no food resource, so the only animals are along the coasts (think sea birds, pinnipeds, and whales).

Image result for antarctic current changed weather patterns pangaea — Image credit: Image drafted for the LSU Museum of Natural Science Antarctic Exhibit

Antarctic hairgrass and pearlwort, flowering plants of Antarctica - Peter Bassett/ npl — Antarctic hairgrass and pearlwort, flowering plants of Antarctica

People in Antarctica

Early explorers sought to be the first to step on Antarctic land, reach the south pole, cross the continent, and even claim sections of Antarctica for their home countries. There are many stories of Antarctic explorers like Ernest Shackleton, Robert F. Scott, Roald Amundsen, James Clark Ross, and Sir Edmund Hillary. I’m sure each of their stories could fill a post of their own, so I’ll save that for another time.

Currently, most people who travel to Antarctica are affiliated with a research station, are doing some kind of trek (the first person to cross Antarctica on a solo trip did so just recently), or are tourists (this girl!). In 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was signed by 12 countries who were conducting science on Antarctica. The treaty stated that:

Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only (Art. I)

Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation toward that end … shall continue (Art. II).

Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available (Art. III).

Now there are 53 signatories on the treaty and Antarctica is dedicated to peace and science! Sounds like a good deal to me. Here are some other resources you may want to explore for more information about Antarctic dinos, and life on the continent. Until next time!

Other information:

https://www.fieldmuseum.org/traveling-exhibitions/antarctic-dinosaurs

http://mentalfloss.com/article/79769/4-dinosaurs-recently-discovered-antarctic

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Antarctic-Dinosaurs-1812725

https://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/issue/polar-plants/plants-of-the-arctic-and-antarctic

https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/2016/07/explorers-of-antarctica/

https://www.ats.aq/e/ats.htm