The Antarctic Zooplankton: The Invisible Guardians of the Global Climate Facing Various Threats

A recent study revealed that the **zooplankton of the Southern Ocean**, especially **copepods**, undergoes a seasonal vertical migration that **transports carbon to the deep sea**, significantly contributing to **mitigating global warming**.

This little-known but highly effective natural process is equivalent to **capturing the annual emissions of 55 million diesel vehicles**, according to calculations based on data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

A biological pump regulating atmospheric CO₂

Every spring, millions of zooplankton feed intensively on **surface phytoplankton**, transforming the carbon captured by photosynthesis into **body fat**. They then descend between **500 meters and 2 kilometers** deep, where they **slowly burn that fat** during the winter.

This behavior, known as the **seasonal vertical migration pump**, allows the **carbon dioxide** released to remain **trapped in the deep ocean** for long periods, preventing it from quickly returning to the atmosphere.

Copepods, krill, and salps: the protagonists of marine carbon sequestration

Although often overshadowed by emblematic species like **whales or penguins**, Antarctic zooplankton plays an essential role in **regulating the planet’s climate**.

**Copepods**, tiny relatives of crustaceans, lead this process, followed by **krill** and **salps**.

Krill. Photo: Wikipedia.
Krill. Photo: Wikipedia.

Microscopic studies reveal fat deposits in their bodies, which serve as **energy reserves** during hibernation in the depths.

The Southern Ocean: epicenter of global cooling

The oceans have absorbed nearly **90% of the excess heat** produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Of this total, the **Antarctic Ocean** accounts for approximately **40%**, and much of this capacity is due to the **zooplankton migratory cycle**.

This finding necessitates a **reassessment of climate models** and recognizing the value of these organisms in the **global carbon dynamics**.

Science under extreme conditions: nets, microscopes, and red light

During a recent expedition aboard the polar vessel **Sir David Attenborough**, scientists from the **British Antarctic Survey** and the **University of Exeter** captured zooplankton near the **South Orkney Islands** and **South Georgia**.

To avoid altering their behavior, they worked in **dark environments with red light** and temperatures of **3 to 4°C**, observing the microscopic details of their physiology for hours.

Increasing threats: industrial fishing and climate change

**Warming waters**, **ocean layer disruption**, and **commercial krill fishing** pose **serious risks** to the stability of Antarctic zooplankton. In 2020, nearly **500,000 tons of krill** were caught, a legal practice but questioned by environmental organizations and documentaries like **David Attenborough’s** *Oceans*.

According to the **Plymouth Marine Laboratory**, if this **biological pump** were to disappear, atmospheric **CO₂ levels could double**, underscoring the **urgency of protecting these invisible ecosystems**.

A call to incorporate zooplankton into climate models

Recognizing their role is key to projecting more accurate future scenarios.

Researchers insist that **new data on migration and carbon sequestration** must be integrated into **climate prediction models** to more accurately reflect the role of oceans in **absorbing greenhouse gases**.

The study was published in the scientific journal *Limnology and Oceanography*.

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