A massive iceberg, measuring approximately 510 square kilometers in size, recently broke free from the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet, revealing a previously unobserved expanse of seafloor teeming with marine life and potential new species. According to a research team aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor, the detached mass of ice exposed an “amazing” ecosystem that has likely been thriving for decades or even centuries.
During their eight-day exploration of the newly exposed seabed, the team discovered a “beautiful, thriving ecosystem” featuring large corals and sponges supporting an array of animal life, including icefish, giant sea spiders, and octopus. This find provides new insights into how ecosystems function beneath floating sections of the Antarctic ice sheet.
The researchers hypothesize that ocean currents may be a mechanism for sustaining life beneath the ice sheet, despite the seafloor being cut off from surface nutrients for centuries due to the 150-meter-thick ice cover. The team’s data collection also offers critical information on the past behavior of the larger Antarctic ice sheet, which has been shrinking and losing mass over the last few decades.
“This discovery is a major contributor to our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems,” said Dr. Sasha Montellis, co-chief scientist of the expedition. “The findings will undoubtedly make new discoveries as we continue to analyze this vital data.”
As part of the Challenger 150 global cooperative focused on deep-sea biological research, the expedition marked an important milestone in the exploration of the remote region and its ecosystems.
Source: https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/another-giant-iceberg-breaks-free-leading-to-amazing-seabed-find