5. The Antarctic Ecosystem During Their Reign
The Antarctic ecology was very different from what we know now during the rule of enormous penguins. In the southern polar region, this era—roughly 60 to 20 million years ago—saw a drastically altered temperature, geography, and range of species. Knowing this ancient ecosystem helps one to better appreciate the Earth’s historical climate and biodiversity as well as give important background for the emergence and domination of gigantic penguins.
During this age, the Antarctic continent was not the frigid, barren terrain we know today. Rather, it was a far more friendly and warm surroundings. Global temperatures were much higher, and Antarctica was essentially free of the vast ice masses covering its area today. Rich forests on the continent included conifers, ferns, and palm trees among other species. Early marsupials and other animals among other terrestrial life were maintained by this lush environment.
Furthermore quite different were the adjacent seas. Warmer waters fostered a rich and varied marine life. Without ice sheets, the shoreline was more wide and offered many more habitats for aquatic life. Fish of many kinds, cephalopods, and early marine mammals abound in the Southern Ocean, building a rich food web fit for major predators like huge penguins.
The lack or limited presence of big marine mammals like whales and seals was one of the most important variations in the marine ecology of this era. These groups had not yet diversified or changed to occupy the ecological niches they do now. One key element allowing huge penguins to flourish and reach such amazing proportions was the lack of competition from big marine creatures.
Furthermore different from today were the ocean currents and patterns throughout this era. Early phases of the development of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which today separates Antarctica thermally from the rest of the planet, This enabled more warm water from lower latitudes to be exchanged, therefore adding to the region’s general warmer temperature.
An other important determinant of the Antarctic environment of this age was the atmospheric composition. Much higher than today, carbon dioxide levels helped to produce the greenhouse effect keeping the earth, including Antarctica, warm. Because it resulted in more acidic waters, which affected the evolution and distribution of different marine life, this CO2-rich environment also had major consequences.
The Antarctic region had seasonal fluctuations including spells of darkness during the winter, albeit the general warmer temperature. Giant penguins and other Antarctic species would have behaved and gone through life cycles under this seasonality, perhaps resulting in changes to help them survive the darker winter months.
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