Rivers of Brine in Antarctic Sea Ice Provide Homes for Tiny Organisms

Antarctic sea ice is more than just frozen seawater at the ocean surface. It is an important home for many tiny-sized marine organisms! When seawater freezes, tiny salty rivers and streams form inside the sea ice. These are called brine channels. To live in these channels, organisms must be smaller than a pinhead. Some organisms can live their whole lives in the sea ice. Many spend their lives crawling around, finding food, and laying eggs. Organisms that are too large to fit in the brine channels can live just below the ice. Fish, krill, and sea butterflies live under the ice for protection from larger predators. They do this by hiding in ice crevices and caves. Warming temperatures mean there is less sea ice in some parts of Antarctica. Animals will have to adapt if marine life is to continue to thrive in this salty environment.