food web

"As ice decreases in the future, we expect to see increased consumption of nutrients by phytoplankton in the Arctic, which has consequences for the food web," Pavia said.

Safeguarding this region would help preserve not only its iconic wildlife, such as penguins and seals, but also the hidden nurseries that sustain the Antarctic food web.

As the ice retreats, it creates conditions that encourage the growth of algae, the foundation of the Arctic's marine food web.

In addition to removing carbon, they produce oxygen, nourish marine food webs, and influence the planet’s greenhouse balance.

They "play a central role in the food web, consuming fish and invertebrates and recycling nutrients" and are one of the "keystone species" of their ecosystem.