Ice platforms in the Arctic are a critical resource for the survival of Arctic animals. Seal pups nurse and rest on the ice platforms for the
first six weeks of life. Recent data suggests that warming sea water and
air temperatures will melt 20 percent or more of the Arctic sea ice over
the next 40 years, disrupting the Arctic food web.
Based on the partial Arctic food web,
melting sea ice might lead to a
decrease in the number of -
polar bears
Partial Arctic Food Web
Arctic cod
Polar bear
Killer whale
Arctic birds
Seal
D phytoplankton
Arctic birds
Arctic cod