Antarctic krill help to fertilize Southern Ocean with iron
Monday, July 4, 2011 - 12:40
in Earth & Climate
A new discovery reveals that the shrimp-like creature at the heart of the Antarctic food chain could play a key role in fertilizing the Southern Ocean with iron -- stimulating the growth of phytoplankton (microscopic plant-like organisms). This process enhances the ocean's capacity for natural storage of carbon dioxide.