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Signs of life under the ice: Surprising discovery in the Arctic!
European researchers discover unexpected life beneath Arctic sea ice, leading to new insights into nitrogen fixation.
Signs of life under the ice: Surprising discovery in the Arctic!
A groundbreaking discovery is currently making headlines: an international research team led by the University of Copenhagen has discovered life beneath the sea ice in the central Arctic Ocean. This revolutionary insight about which az online reported shows that nitrogen fixation is possible even under extreme conditions, something previously thought impossible. The lead author, Lisa W. von Friesen, found that the living conditions for the organisms are not as desolate as generally assumed.
What is particularly exciting is that in the Central Arctic, non-cyanobacteria, instead of the otherwise typical cyanobacteria, take over the nitrogen fixation. These organisms feed on dissolved organic material, which can come from algae, and release the fixed nitrogen. This in turn promotes the growth of algae, which could be important for the entire marine food chain.
The impact of the discovery
The highest rates of nitrogen fixation were measured at the edge of the ice melt. As sea ice dwindles, researchers hope more nitrogen will be added through this process. This could significantly increase algae production in the Arctic Ocean, which serves as the main food source for planktonic crustaceans. More algae could also improve the ocean's CO₂ uptake, as they absorb CO₂ as they grow. However, it remains unclear whether this net effect will actually be beneficial for the climate, as biological systems are known to be very complex.
The study documenting these results was published in the renowned journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment. The researchers emphasize that nitrogen fixation should be included in future forecasts for the Arctic Ocean in order to gain a better understanding of the dynamic ecological changes.
A local comparison: Seattle
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