Thriving Ecosystem Discovered Under Antarctic Ice After Iceberg Break: A New Frontier for Marine Biology

An international team of scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's R/V Falkor (too) made a remarkable discovery in January 2025. After a 510 km² iceberg, named A-84, broke off from the George VI Ice Shelf in Antarctica, they found a vibrant ecosystem thriving beneath the newly exposed seafloor. This area, previously hidden under approximately 150 meters of ice, teemed with life, including corals, sea anemones, sponges, octopuses, and giant sea spiders. The team used a submersible rover to capture images up to 1,300 meters below the ice shelf, revealing the surprising abundance of life in this remote region. Scientists were astonished by the biodiversity and biomass, suspecting they may have discovered several new species. The discovery offers new insights into how ecosystems function beneath floating sections of the Antarctic ice sheet. Researchers are investigating how this ecosystem sustains itself, as it has been cut off from surface nutrients for centuries. Ocean currents may play a crucial role in delivering nutrients to the area. This unexpected find highlights the resilience of life and the importance of further exploring the hidden ecosystems of Antarctica.