Sea ice loss affects entire Arctic ecosystem: study

A review of the latest research on the Arctic says the continued loss of sea ice will affect the entire ecosystem of the North, from the largest animals to the tiniest plants.

Co-author Ian Stirling says ice plays the same role in the northern oceans that soil does in the forests — it’s the foundation habitat supporting the entire food chain.

The report shows that changes to that building block of Arctic life are having consequences that are poorly understood.

Stirling says that while most people have some sense that sea ice is shrinking, the understanding that ice is essential to Arctic life is not widespread.

Last fall saw the lowest level of Arctic sea ice in 33 years of satellite records.