Thriving Oceans

Should we be surprised that the polar oceans are not vast stretches of the non-living?  Personally I was not under that assumption and have always been amazed at the places that become critical habitats for biological diversity.  This especially became the case when ocean vents were found to support a host of thermophiles.  Thus, I have held that the Arctic and Southern oceans are no different in such respects for supporting an array of life.

Even though the Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of our world (covering ~4.6 million square miles), it provides the sustenance to support tiny planktonic organisms to large polar bears and megafauna like whales.  It is the unique Arctic conditions of cold oxygen rich waters complement the nutrient rich seabed , and the summer month permanent daylight that energizes the region with a vast supply of algae, and ice covered winter layers that enables success for foraging land mammals.

The Southern Ocean has been held as one of the most biologically productive seas in the world.  Krill often forming swarms estimated to weigh more than 10 million tons (and can be seen by satellites), are fueled by continual daylight in the summer.

With perfect conditions such as these it was just a matter of time before researchers had the hard evidence needed to proclaim the polar oceans are, if I may steal from the Blue Planet series, “Seas of Life.”

According to the AP, “A marine census released Monday documented 7,500 species in the Antarctic and 5,500 in the Arctic, including several hundred that researchers believe could be new to science.”

Check out the article here-  Study: ‘Astonishing richness’ in polar sea species