June 15 , 2004 — The guillemots that George Divoky has been studying on Cooper Island since 1972 aren't the only animals that rely on sea ice for their livelihoods. Arctic sea ice is important for a number of species. To a non-Arctic dweller, it may seem that life should be a lot easier up there if temperatures warm up. But lots of creatures are specially adapted to an icy environment and it's unclear how - or if - they'll be able to adapt to a future with little or no ice.
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The icy surface of the northernmost oceans can look barren and featureless to the untrained eye. But there's actually a highly specialized and productive ecosystem flourishing above, below and within the ice. Single-celled species of algae live inside the ice, in the tiny, briny spaces between the ice crystals. Protozoans, flatworms, crustaceans and rotifers feed on the ice algae, with most of the biological activity in the lower levels of ice floes. This bottom community of invertebrates is an important part of the food web in Arctic waters. The plankton that prosper below the ice are food for fish, who are food for birds and mammals. Nutrients released by the ice algae sink to the ocean floor, where they enrich shellfish habitats. The ice also provides a vital physical platform above water for larger animals and protection from predators for smaller creatures below. And the sea ice is an important thermal barrier, blanketing the surface of the water from harsh winter temperatures.

Click on the images below to learn about how these Arctic species depend on ice for their livlihood:

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