Scientists Discover Unusual World Under Antarctic Ice
Scientists accidentally discovered the largest known fish breeding colony under Antarctic ice—about 60 million nests of the icefish Neopagetopsis ionah covering 240 km². The discovery was made in the Weddell Sea using an OFOBS underwater camera. The colony is located in an area with warmer waters that provide food for the young. Researchers propose creating a marine protected area.
Scientists on the German icebreaker RV Polarstern accidentally discovered a unique marine ecosystem under Antarctic ice—the largest known fish breeding colony. In the Weddell Sea, a towed underwater camera OFOBS recorded about 60 million nests of the icefish Neopagetopsis ionah over an area of 240 km². PhD student Lilian Böhringer first noticed unusual depressions on the seafloor. The nests belong to a rare species without hemoglobin; each contains about 1,700 eggs guarded by adults. The colony formed in a zone of upwelling warmer waters (2 °C above ambient), which deliver zooplankton for the young. The colony's clear boundaries resemble penguin colonies. Remains of dead fish were found, indicating the colony serves as a food source for seals and predators. Researchers propose creating a marine protected area in this region.