9781422279199

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Introduction

Local residents of the Antarctic, including penguins, are being increasingly threatened by human visitors and the effects of human-created climate change.

temperature of the water is changing, meaning that animals living thereonce again have to adapt.Their success at that process will determine the future of this vital food chain. In addition, human beings are having direct ef- fects, such as through overfishing of some species. The good news is that whilemany animals have adapted to survive in these difficult areas, humans have not.There is little human settlement in Antarctica. The massive impacts of development and civilization that have affected wild areas around the

world have not clashed toomuchwith this southern continent. There are some small settlements on Antarctic islands, and several nations take part in scientific research stations on the continental mainland. But so far at least,amassive invasionof the human species has been slowed by the dev- astating cold and themighty winds. Is nature working hard to keep people out? Or will people find a way to get in here? This book is a look at the animals that live in this icywilderness, animals who are hoping the answer to that last question is no.