Antarctic Microplankton Unlock Ocean Secrets

Imagine an invisible world beneath Antarctic ice, teeming with life no bigger than a grain of sand. Chinese scientists have just brought back 400+ microscopic treasures from the Southern Ocean that could rewrite what we know about marine ecosystems!

The 40th Chinese Antarctic Expedition crew spent 161 days sailing over 81,000 nautical miles—that's like circling Earth three times! Their cargo? Tiny plankton samples collected from seven different depths (0-200 meters) near the Antarctic Peninsula and other key locations.

Why care about specks you need a microscope to see? These phytoplankton and planktonic ciliates form the Southern Ocean's 'invisible buffet'—the base of the food chain that feeds everything from krill to whales! CAS researcher Li Haibo says studying them is like finding 'missing puzzle pieces' for climate science.

The coolest discovery? Sand-shell ciliates throwing an underwater rave 150-200 meters deep! Scientists are now racing to understand why these micro-critters party at specific depths. Could water temperature? Nutrients? The answer might help predict how climate change affects polar ecosystems.

This isn't just a one-hit wonder—researchers have been collecting data since 2014. Each expedition adds new beats to our understanding of Earth's 'blue heart.'

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Newly-returned Antarctic samples reveal secrets of microscopic ocean

cgtn.com