Researchers are developing a new method to monitor Antarctic krill populations from space by analyzing subtle changes in the color of seawater caused by krill density. This innovative approach aims to address concerns about the impact of fishing and climate change on these crucial marine creatures.
Scientists believe subtle variations in the color of seawater will enable them to count tiny, yet critically important, Antarctic marine creatures from space. The focus of this new research is Antarctic krill, which measure just a couple of inches long and are among the most abundant and vital animals on Earth. Marine life, including whales, penguins, seals, and seabirds, all rely on these diminutive creatures for sustenance.
However, conservation scientists are worried that fishing and climate change could have a detrimental effect on krill populations, emphasizing the need for innovative monitoring methods. \'Antarctic krill are the superheroes of the Southern Ocean,' said Rod Downie, chief polar advisor at the wildlife charity WWF-UK. 'They are tiny, unsung heroes that sustain incredible marine life, but climate change and unsustainable fishing are putting them at risk.' Researchers from the University of Strathclyde, WWF, and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are developing a novel approach utilizing satellites to determine the number of krill in the waters surrounding Antarctica. The key lies in the subtle differences in how much light seawater absorbs, depending on the krill density. Dr. Cait McCarry, from the University of Strathclyde, recently returned from a trip to Antarctica where she captured krill to measure this effect. 'We start with seawater, then we add in a krill and take a measurement,' she explained. 'Then we add another krill and take another measurement.' This meticulous analysis of how krill density alters ocean color will, researchers assert, allow them to capture snapshots of the krill population from satellites, enabling continuous monitoring from space. \Krill serve as a food source for some of the planet's largest animals, including giant whales that undertake thousands of kilometers journeys to Antarctica to feed on them. They are also the cornerstone of a healthy ocean, forming part of a virtuous cycle: Whales consume krill, krill eat microscopic plants that reside in sea ice, and these plants absorb planet-warming carbon as they grow. When whales defecate (in vast quantities), it fertilizes the planet-cooling marine plants. However, as ocean temperatures rise due to global warming, conservation scientists fear that this cycle could be disrupted, leaving krill vulnerable. Mr. Downie said: 'We urgently need to better manage the fishery and protect krill habitats within a network of marine protected areas.
Antarctic Krill Satellite Monitoring Climate Change Ocean Conservation Marine Ecosystems
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