Why is "Calling Antarctica 'untouched'" a common mistake in Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1?

Why it happens: It feels remote. How to avoid it: Antarctica is NOT untouched. Climate change, fishing, tourism, and bases all impact it. Mark scheme rewards awareness of human pressure. Source: 0460 Examiner Reports 2022-2024

Changing EcosystemsCambridge IGCSE Geography (0460)

Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

Work through the notes, try the practice questions, then take the quiz. The report tells you exactly what to revise next.

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Threats to Antarctic Ecosystem Part 1 Study Notes — Cambridge IGCSE Geography 0460 (2024-2026 syllabus)

Climate change, krill fishing, tourism, scientific bases. How human activity reaches even Antarctica. Global consequences of Antarctic ice melt.

What you’ll learn

Mapped to the Cambridge IGCSE 0460 syllabus (2024-2026).

3.3.1 — Identify threats to Antarctic ecosystem.
3.3.2 — Explain climate-change impact on Antarctica.
3.3.3 — Explain why krill fishing matters.

Four major threats

Climate change, fishing, tourism, scientific bases.

Climate change. Warming oceans + atmosphere. Antarctic Peninsula has warmed ~3°C in 50 years. Ice shelves collapsing, sea ice declining.

Krill fishing. 200,000+ tonnes per year for omega-3 supplements and aquaculture feed. Threatens keystone species.

Tourism. 50,000+ visitors/year pre-pandemic. Risks: non-native species, pollution, wildlife disturbance.

Scientific bases. 70+ research stations. Waste, fuel spills, atmospheric pollution. Some abandoned bases left as toxic legacies.

Cambridge tip. Memorise all four with specific numbers.

Climate change (warming).
Krill fishing (200k+ t/year).
Tourism (50k+ visitors).
Scientific bases (70+).

See the full worked example for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1 →

Climate change in Antarctica

Ice melt, sea-ice loss, ocean acidification.

Ice melt. Glaciers and ice shelves retreating. Pine Island, Thwaites glaciers losing 100+ km³/year. West Antarctic ice sheet potentially unstable.

Sea-ice loss. Less winter sea ice disrupts krill larvae habitat and ice-algae feeding.

Ocean acidification. Absorbed CO₂ acidifies seawater; affects shell-forming organisms.

Global consequence: sea-level rise. Antarctic ice contains enough water to raise global sea levels by ~58m if completely melted. Even fractional melt threatens coastal cities.

Cambridge tip. Mark scheme rewards connecting Antarctic ice loss to GLOBAL sea-level rise.

Ice melt + sea-ice loss + acidification.
Antarctic Peninsula ~3°C warmer in 50 years.
Global consequence: sea-level rise.

See the full worked example for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1 →

Why krill fishing concerns conservationists

Removing the keystone destabilises everything above it.

Keystone species. Krill = foundation of Antarctic food chain. Whales, seals, penguins, fish all depend on krill.

Recovery uncertain. Krill have specific life-cycle needs (sea-ice for larvae). Combined with climate change, populations may not recover.

Rising demand. Used for omega-3 supplements and aquaculture feed. Demand growing globally.

Compounding threats. Climate change + fishing acts together — worse than either alone.

Cambridge tip. Top-band answers mention compounding effects.

Krill = keystone → cascade risk.
Recovery uncertain.
Demand rising.
Compounding with climate change.

See the full worked example for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1 →

How it’s examined

Antarctic threats appear on most Paper 1s. Most-tested: identify threats (8 marks), climate impacts (6 marks).

Sources: Cambridge IGCSE Geography 0460 syllabus (2024-2026); 0460 Examiner Reports 2022-2024; 0460/22 May/Jun 2024 question paper and mark scheme. Last reviewed 2026-05-09.

Master this Topic

Worked examples, formulae, definitions and the mistakes examiners flag — everything you need to push from a pass to an A*.

Take this whole topic with you

Download a branded revision sheet — worked examples, formulae, definitions and common mistakes for Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1, ready to print or save as PDF.

Step-by-step worked examples — Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Threats to Antarctic ecosystem (8 marks)
Extended• Adapted from 0460/22 May/Jun 2024• threats
Question
Identify FOUR threats to the Antarctic ecosystem and describe each. (8 marks)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Climate change (2 marks). Warming oceans + atmosphere → ice melt, sea-ice loss, ocean acidification. Antarctic Peninsula has warmed ~3°C in 50 years — among the fastest-warming regions on Earth.
2. Step 2
  Krill fishing (2 marks). Commercial krill fishing (mainly for omega-3 supplements and aquaculture feed) removes 200,000+ tonnes/year from the Southern Ocean. Threatens the keystone species and everything that depends on it.
3. Step 3
  Tourism (2 marks). Increased Antarctic tourism (50,000+ visitors/year pre-pandemic). Risks: introducing non-native species, pollution from cruise ships, disturbance to wildlife (penguin colonies).
4. Step 4
  Scientific bases (2 marks). 70+ research stations from many countries. Waste, fuel spills, atmospheric pollution. Some abandoned bases left as toxic legacies.
Answer
Climate change, krill fishing, tourism, scientific bases. Other: ozone layer depletion, illegal fishing.
2Climate change impact on Antarctica (6 marks)
Extended• climate-change
Question
Describe THREE ways climate change is affecting Antarctica. State ONE GLOBAL consequence. (6 marks)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Ice melt (2 marks). Glaciers and ice shelves retreating. Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers losing 100+ km³ of ice per year. West Antarctic ice sheet potentially unstable.
2. Step 2
  Sea-ice loss (1 mark). Less winter sea ice — disrupts krill larvae shelter and ice-algae feeding.
3. Step 3
  Ocean acidification (1 mark). Absorbed CO₂ makes seawater more acidic. Affects shell-forming organisms.
4. Step 4
  Global consequence (2 marks). SEA-LEVEL RISE — Antarctic ice contains enough water to raise sea levels by ~58m if fully melted. Even small additional melt threatens coastal cities globally.
Answer
Ice melt, sea-ice loss, ocean acidification → global sea-level rise threatens billions.
3Why krill fishing is concerning (5 marks)
Extended• krill
Question
Explain why commercial krill fishing concerns Antarctic conservationists. (5 marks)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Keystone species (2 marks). Krill are the FOUNDATION of the Antarctic food chain. Whales, seals, penguins, fish all depend on krill. Removing krill threatens everything above.
2. Step 2
  Recovery uncertain (2 marks). Krill have specific life-cycle needs (sea ice for larvae). Combined with climate change, populations may not recover from over-fishing.
3. Step 3
  Demand growth (1 mark). Used for omega-3 supplements and aquaculture feed. Global demand is RISING, increasing fishing pressure.
Answer
Krill = keystone; fishing threatens whole food chain; uncertain recovery + rising demand.
Examiner tip
Top-band candidates note the COMPOUNDING — climate change + fishing combined is worse than either alone.

Key Definitions and Keywords — Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1 answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 0460 sitting.

Ice shelf
Examiner keyword
Floating extension of a glacier or ice sheet. Major Antarctic ice shelves: Ross, Filchner-Ronne, Larsen.
Ocean acidification
Examiner keyword
Decrease in ocean pH caused by absorption of atmospheric CO₂. Affects shell-forming organisms.
Non-native species
Examiner keyword
Organisms introduced to a new region. Can outcompete local species and disrupt ecosystems. Tourism is a major vector.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

The traps other students keep falling into on threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1 questions — taken from recent Cambridge IGCSE 0460 examiner reports and mark schemes — and how to avoid them.

✕Calling Antarctica 'untouched'
0460 Examiner Reports 2022-2024
Why it happens
It feels remote.
How to avoid it
Antarctica is NOT untouched. Climate change, fishing, tourism, and bases all impact it. Mark scheme rewards awareness of human pressure.

Practice questions

Exam-style questions with step-by-step worked solutions. Try one before checking the method.

Past paper style quiz

Get a report showing which sub-topics you've nailed and which ones still need work.

Changing EcosystemsCambridge IGCSE Geography (0460)

Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

Work through the notes, try the practice questions, then take the quiz. The report tells you exactly what to revise next.

Previous Next

Learn this Topic

Start with the slides for the quick version, then go deeper with the full study notes.

Short Study Notes in the form of Slides

Read the notes first. If the method in a worked example clicks, you're ready for the questions.

Page 1 / 0

Detailed Study Notes

Full prose, callouts and a recap — built for A* mastery, not just a quick scan.

Take these study notes with you

Download a branded PDF — full prose, callouts, recap and memorise list for Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1, ready to print or save offline.

Threats to Antarctic Ecosystem Part 1 Study Notes — Cambridge IGCSE Geography 0460 (2024-2026 syllabus)

Climate change, krill fishing, tourism, scientific bases. How human activity reaches even Antarctica. Global consequences of Antarctic ice melt.

What you’ll learn

Mapped to the Cambridge IGCSE 0460 syllabus (2024-2026).

3.3.1 — Identify threats to Antarctic ecosystem.
3.3.2 — Explain climate-change impact on Antarctica.
3.3.3 — Explain why krill fishing matters.

Four major threats

Climate change, fishing, tourism, scientific bases.

Climate change. Warming oceans + atmosphere. Antarctic Peninsula has warmed ~3°C in 50 years. Ice shelves collapsing, sea ice declining.

Krill fishing. 200,000+ tonnes per year for omega-3 supplements and aquaculture feed. Threatens keystone species.

Tourism. 50,000+ visitors/year pre-pandemic. Risks: non-native species, pollution, wildlife disturbance.

Scientific bases. 70+ research stations. Waste, fuel spills, atmospheric pollution. Some abandoned bases left as toxic legacies.

Cambridge tip. Memorise all four with specific numbers.

Climate change (warming).
Krill fishing (200k+ t/year).
Tourism (50k+ visitors).
Scientific bases (70+).

See the full worked example for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1 →

Climate change in Antarctica

Ice melt, sea-ice loss, ocean acidification.

Ice melt. Glaciers and ice shelves retreating. Pine Island, Thwaites glaciers losing 100+ km³/year. West Antarctic ice sheet potentially unstable.

Sea-ice loss. Less winter sea ice disrupts krill larvae habitat and ice-algae feeding.

Ocean acidification. Absorbed CO₂ acidifies seawater; affects shell-forming organisms.

Global consequence: sea-level rise. Antarctic ice contains enough water to raise global sea levels by ~58m if completely melted. Even fractional melt threatens coastal cities.

Cambridge tip. Mark scheme rewards connecting Antarctic ice loss to GLOBAL sea-level rise.

Ice melt + sea-ice loss + acidification.
Antarctic Peninsula ~3°C warmer in 50 years.
Global consequence: sea-level rise.

See the full worked example for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1 →

Why krill fishing concerns conservationists

Removing the keystone destabilises everything above it.

Keystone species. Krill = foundation of Antarctic food chain. Whales, seals, penguins, fish all depend on krill.

Recovery uncertain. Krill have specific life-cycle needs (sea-ice for larvae). Combined with climate change, populations may not recover.

Rising demand. Used for omega-3 supplements and aquaculture feed. Demand growing globally.

Compounding threats. Climate change + fishing acts together — worse than either alone.

Cambridge tip. Top-band answers mention compounding effects.

Krill = keystone → cascade risk.
Recovery uncertain.
Demand rising.
Compounding with climate change.

See the full worked example for threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1 →

How it’s examined

Antarctic threats appear on most Paper 1s. Most-tested: identify threats (8 marks), climate impacts (6 marks).

Sources: Cambridge IGCSE Geography 0460 syllabus (2024-2026); 0460 Examiner Reports 2022-2024; 0460/22 May/Jun 2024 question paper and mark scheme. Last reviewed 2026-05-09.

Master this Topic

Worked examples, formulae, definitions and the mistakes examiners flag — everything you need to push from a pass to an A*.

Take this whole topic with you

Step-by-step worked examples — Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on threats to the antarctic ecosystem and sustainable management part 1, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Threats to Antarctic ecosystem (8 marks)
Extended• Adapted from 0460/22 May/Jun 2024• threats
Question
Identify FOUR threats to the Antarctic ecosystem and describe each. (8 marks)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Climate change (2 marks). Warming oceans + atmosphere → ice melt, sea-ice loss, ocean acidification. Antarctic Peninsula has warmed ~3°C in 50 years — among the fastest-warming regions on Earth.
2. Step 2
  Krill fishing (2 marks). Commercial krill fishing (mainly for omega-3 supplements and aquaculture feed) removes 200,000+ tonnes/year from the Southern Ocean. Threatens the keystone species and everything that depends on it.
3. Step 3
  Tourism (2 marks). Increased Antarctic tourism (50,000+ visitors/year pre-pandemic). Risks: introducing non-native species, pollution from cruise ships, disturbance to wildlife (penguin colonies).
4. Step 4
  Scientific bases (2 marks). 70+ research stations from many countries. Waste, fuel spills, atmospheric pollution. Some abandoned bases left as toxic legacies.
Answer
Climate change, krill fishing, tourism, scientific bases. Other: ozone layer depletion, illegal fishing.
2Climate change impact on Antarctica (6 marks)
Extended• climate-change
Question
Describe THREE ways climate change is affecting Antarctica. State ONE GLOBAL consequence. (6 marks)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Ice melt (2 marks). Glaciers and ice shelves retreating. Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers losing 100+ km³ of ice per year. West Antarctic ice sheet potentially unstable.
2. Step 2
  Sea-ice loss (1 mark). Less winter sea ice — disrupts krill larvae shelter and ice-algae feeding.
3. Step 3
  Ocean acidification (1 mark). Absorbed CO₂ makes seawater more acidic. Affects shell-forming organisms.
4. Step 4
  Global consequence (2 marks). SEA-LEVEL RISE — Antarctic ice contains enough water to raise sea levels by ~58m if fully melted. Even small additional melt threatens coastal cities globally.
Answer
Ice melt, sea-ice loss, ocean acidification → global sea-level rise threatens billions.
3Why krill fishing is concerning (5 marks)
Extended• krill
Question
Explain why commercial krill fishing concerns Antarctic conservationists. (5 marks)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Keystone species (2 marks). Krill are the FOUNDATION of the Antarctic food chain. Whales, seals, penguins, fish all depend on krill. Removing krill threatens everything above.
2. Step 2
  Recovery uncertain (2 marks). Krill have specific life-cycle needs (sea ice for larvae). Combined with climate change, populations may not recover from over-fishing.
3. Step 3
  Demand growth (1 mark). Used for omega-3 supplements and aquaculture feed. Global demand is RISING, increasing fishing pressure.
Answer
Krill = keystone; fishing threatens whole food chain; uncertain recovery + rising demand.
Examiner tip
Top-band candidates note the COMPOUNDING — climate change + fishing combined is worse than either alone.

Key Definitions and Keywords — Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

Ice shelf
Examiner keyword
Floating extension of a glacier or ice sheet. Major Antarctic ice shelves: Ross, Filchner-Ronne, Larsen.
Ocean acidification
Examiner keyword
Decrease in ocean pH caused by absorption of atmospheric CO₂. Affects shell-forming organisms.
Non-native species
Examiner keyword
Organisms introduced to a new region. Can outcompete local species and disrupt ecosystems. Tourism is a major vector.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

✕Calling Antarctica 'untouched'
0460 Examiner Reports 2022-2024
Why it happens
It feels remote.
How to avoid it
Antarctica is NOT untouched. Climate change, fishing, tourism, and bases all impact it. Mark scheme rewards awareness of human pressure.

Practice questions

Exam-style questions with step-by-step worked solutions. Try one before checking the method.

Past paper style quiz

Get a report showing which sub-topics you've nailed and which ones still need work.

Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

Short Study Notes in the form of Slides

Detailed Study Notes

What you’ll learn

How it’s examined

1Threats to Antarctic ecosystem (8 marks)

2Climate change impact on Antarctica (6 marks)

3Why krill fishing is concerning (5 marks)

Ice shelf

Ocean acidification

Non-native species

✕Calling Antarctica 'untouched'

Practice questions

Past paper style quiz

Assess your understanding

Threats to the Antarctic Ecosystem and Sustainable Management Part 1

Short Study Notes in the form of Slides

Detailed Study Notes

What you’ll learn

How it’s examined

1Threats to Antarctic ecosystem (8 marks)

2Climate change impact on Antarctica (6 marks)

3Why krill fishing is concerning (5 marks)

Ice shelf

Ocean acidification

Non-native species

✕Calling Antarctica 'untouched'

Practice questions

Past paper style quiz

Assess your understanding