In 2022 and 2024 delays in sea ice formation in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, created a natural experiment to explore how changing ice dynamics reshape microscopic life at the base of the food web. We observed that late-forming sea ice supported simpler, diatom-dominated communities, while laboratory studies revealed that key microalgal species altered their fatty acid production in response to shifting light conditions. Together, these findings show how the timing and nature of sea ice formation may influence Antarctic ecosystems, with potential changes to both microalgal diversity and the nutritional foundation for higher trophic levels.
Jacqui is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Marine Ecology at the Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. She is currently studying marine microalgal communities from coastal New Zealand to McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, to understand how climate change influences these remarkable microscopic organisms that form the foundation of the marine food web.
