Life Discovered Under Antarctic Ice Shelf

Life Discovered Under Antarctic Ice Shelf

Sub : Geo

Sec: Oceanography

Context:

• A team of scientists discovered dozens of new species, including giant sea spiders, octopi, and corals, on the newly exposed seafloor left behind by the A-84 iceberg.
• The iceberg broke away from the George VI Ice Shelf on January 13, revealing an underwater world previously beyond human reach.
• The mission was part of Challenger 150, a UNESCO-endorsed global initiative for deep-sea research.

Exploration and Discoveries

• The remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian explored the seafloor for eight days at depths of up to 1,300 metres.
• Observations included large corals, sponges, icefish, giant sea spiders, octopi, and a giant phantom jelly.
• Scientists may have discovered several new species.
• A vase-shaped sponge found might be hundreds of years old.

Scientists’ Reactions

• Scientists were surprised by the discovery of a thriving ecosystem under the ice shelf.
• According to Dr Patricia Esquete, the size of the animals suggests that the communities have been there for decades or even centuries.

Reason for Surprise

• Deep-sea ecosystems typically rely on photosynthetic organisms for nutrients.
• The Antarctic ecosystem, covered by 150-metre-thick ice for centuries, is completely cut off from surface nutrients.

Possible Explanations for Life Under Ice Shelf

• Scientists hypothesise that ocean currents, glacial meltwater, or another unknown factor could be transporting essential nutrients.
• The precise mechanism sustaining these ecosystems is still not fully understood.

Significance of the Findings

• The discoveries provide new insights into how ecosystems function beneath floating ice shelves.
• Expands knowledge of life in extreme environments and the potential adaptability of deep-sea organisms.

Conclusion

• The study of life beneath Antarctic ice shelves is still in its early stages.
• In 2021, researchers first reported signs of bottom-dwelling life beneath the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in the Southern Weddell Sea.
• Further research is needed to understand the nutrient sources and survival mechanisms of these unique ecosystems.