The study focused on microscopic organisms in four distinct habitats of the Beaufort Sea in northern Canada: open ocean, river mouths, coastal waters, and areas beneath sea ice. Researchers found that the under-ice communities exhibited the lowest diversity, consisting primarily of specialist plankton and microbes uniquely adapted to the extreme conditions.
The rapid warming of the Arctic, at a rate at least double that of the global average, has led to significant sea ice loss. This raises the prospect of an ice-free Arctic summer, potentially transforming the region's ecosystems.
"Every drop of the ocean is alive with tiny organisms," explained Vicky Jackson of the University of Exeter's Living Systems Institute. "These form complex communities that are the foundation of all marine food webs - directly or indirectly supporting all ocean life. The under-ice communities we studied were made up of rare, specialized species. As the ice melts, such communities could be replaced by the more generalist species we observed in other environments."
Dr. Adam Monier added, "These under-ice species are specially adapted to their environment, such as coping with minimal ultraviolet light exposure. While species can adapt, the pace of Arctic change makes it difficult or impossible for them to keep up. Consequently, they may face competition from generalist species better suited to the new conditions, potentially disrupting broader marine food webs in unpredictable ways."
The study employed RNA extraction from seawater samples to identify active microbial communities and assess their ecological roles.
The findings underline the vulnerability of Arctic ecosystems and the unique under-ice species to the consequences of climate change.
Research Report:Vulnerability of Arctic Ocean microbial eukaryotes to sea ice loss
Related Links
University of Exeter
Beyond the Ice Age
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