Scientists Stumble Upon A Hidden Ecosystem Under Antarctica You Won't Believe What They Found

(MENAFN- Live Mint) A team of scientists has uncovered a never-before-seen Antarctic ecosystem after a massive ice shelf collapse exposed a previously inaccessible seafloor. The discovery, made by researchers aboard the "R/V Falkor (too)" in January 2025, provides a rare opportunity to study life beneath the ice.

A rare opportunity for exploration

The Schmidt Ocean Institute team was conducting research when a piece of ice the size of Chicago broke off from the George VI Ice Shelf, located 57 miles away.

"We seized the moment"

Expedition co-chief scientist Dr. Patricia Esquete of the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, emphasized the significance of the opportunity.

“We seized upon the moment, changed our expedition plan, and went for it so we could look at what was happening in the depths below,” Esquete said.“We didn't expect to find such a beautiful, thriving ecosystem. Based on the size of the animals, the communities we observed have been there for decades, maybe even hundreds of years.”

Using Schmidt Ocean Institute's ROV SuBastian, the team conducted eight days of exploration at depths reaching 1,300 meters. The expedition revealed a thriving deep-sea ecosystem, including large corals, sponges, icefish, giant sea spiders, and octopi. The discovery has provided valuable insights into life beneath the Antarctic ice sheet.

A thriving and mysterious ecosystem

The team was surprised by the biodiversity and abundance of life beneath the ice shelf. Scientists suspect that several previously unknown species may have been discovered during the expedition.

One of the key questions researchers are now investigating is how these ecosystems sustain themselves. Typically, deep-sea life depends on nutrients from surface waters slowly sinking to the ocean floor. However, this region had been covered by an ice sheet 150 meters thick, cutting it off from direct surface nutrient sources.

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