Less Antarctic sea ice may not mean fewer krill

However, several recent observations conflict with this hypothesis. Our study presents the first direct evidence that winter sea ice is actually a food-poor environment when compared to neighbouring open water regions.

We found that complex under ice habitats are vital for larval krill, providing shelter from currents. During the day the larvae feed on the sparse ice-associated food but after sunset, they migrate into the water below the ice. This behaviour allows access to more food and promotes the dispersal of larvae to spring feeding grounds.