Microbes near the surface of the Southern Ocean sustain the polar food chain — impacting the nutrient flow from the surface to the depths where other microbial communities thrive in the dark. #NatGeoExplorer Allison Fong sampled sea ice in the Weddell Sea to understand how changes in the sea ice may affect the microorganisms that feed the Southern Ocean's wildlife populations. This research better informs our understanding of how microbe communities absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and

12K views · 480 reactions | Antarctic wildlife (like this gentoo penguin) relies on the Southern Ocean for survival. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources can safeguard penguins, whales, krill, fish, and seals with a network of marine protected areas in the ocean surrounding Antarctica.  by www.instagram.com/johnbozinov | Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition | Facebook

The fearsome yet beautiful Southern Ocean