Researchers crack the ice to study the arctic marine food web

Marine ecologists, supported by the National Science Foundation, conduct research in the Arctic to study algae, which form the base of the marine food web. Algae bloom in spring and migrate from ice to water, supporting marine life. The team investigates algae's role in the ecosystem, including interactions with jellyfish. Climate change may disrupt this balance, affecting larger marine animals. Algae serve as indicators of environmental changes in the Arctic.

What is the primary focus of the marine ecologists' study in Barrow, Alaska?

• Seals

• Algae

• Jellyfish

• Polar bears

How do the researchers measure algae levels in the ice?

• By using thermal imaging

• By collecting snow samples

• By observing polar bears

• By drilling ice cores

What unusual discovery did the team make under the ice?

• A polar bear den

• A new species of algae

• A seal colony

• Jellyfish

What could be a consequence of reduced snow cover on the ice?

• Delayed algae bloom

• Less marine productivity

• Increased algae bloom

• More polar bear sightings

Why are algae considered crucial in the Arctic ecosystem?

• They help in ice formation

• They attract tourists

• They provide shelter for fish

• They are a primary food source