The tiny life powering the CENTRAL ARCTIC OCEAN. (OCEAN CONSERVANCY, OCEANS NORTH and ONLY ONE)

 

Hi friend, What do you picture when you hear the words, "Central Arctic Ocean"? Ice as far as the eye can see? A swimming seal, or perhaps a polar bear? How about the North Pole?  Zoom in closer. Can you spot the life within the ice? The entire Arctic food web — every cod, seabird, walrus, and whale — relies on single-celled, photosynthetic algae for survival. How do we know? In 2023, scientists sampled more than 2,300 animals from over 150 species across Arctic shelves. They found traces of sea ice algae in 96% of them — even in samples taken when the algae weren't in bloom.

Meet the CAO's smallest life ​  Sea ice algae live inside and just beneath the ice itself. Some form meter-long filaments attached to the underside of an ice sheet, while others thrive in the briny channels running through it. They've adapted to grow with far less light than their open-water counterparts, and, in regions of the Central Arctic Ocean covered by thick, multi-year ice, these algae produce most of the energy needed to power the entire ecosystem.  Phytoplankton are free-floating, microscopic organisms. Recent research reveals that they too can survive periods of darkness underneath the sea ice — multiplying when the ice melts through the spring and summer.  Non-cyanobacteria are the newest discovery. Just last year, researchers discovered them doing something in the Central Arctic Ocean that could greatly change our understanding of the ecosystem. Algae need nitrogen to grow, and these organisms make it for them — turning dissolved nitrogen gas into a sort of "sub-zero fertilizer" for algae, like phytoplankton, to survive.  Unlike cyanobacteria, which play a key role in many of the world’s oceans, these organisms don’t need sunlight and are able to withstand extreme Arctic conditions. Their presence could mean more algae, more energy moving up the food web, and more carbon pulled out of the atmosphere, especially as sea ice melts.

Why this matters As you can see, scientists are still trying to understand the fundamentals of how this ecosystem works.  That's why we’re calling for a new agreement to pause industrial development in the Central Arctic Ocean while we continue to learn more about sea ice algae, their bacterial cousins, and all the species that rely on them to survive. Want to get involved? Know someone who'd find this interesting? Forward them the Citizens Pledge. The more people who know what's happening at the top of the world, the better. Stay tuned for more on how you can take action to protect this region. With gratitude, Ocean Conservancy, Oceans North, and Only One . ​

We have only one planet and only one ocean, and there is only one way to do this: Together. Connect with us! hello@only.one Explore our 2024 Impact Report

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