Antarctic Ocean Food Web
Marine
Southern Ocean — surrounding Antarctica
Description
The Antarctic Ocean food web is built on the enormous productivity of Antarctic krill, which forms the critical link between phytoplankton and virtually all higher predators. Seasonal sea ice dynamics govern phytoplankton blooms that fuel the entire system. This food web supports the largest animals ever to live, including blue whales.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Psychrophilic bacteria
Amphipods
Isopods
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Leopard seal
Orca
Blue whale
3 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Adelie penguin
Crabeater seal
Antarctic silverfish
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Antarctic krill
Copepods
Salps
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Diatoms
Phaeocystis
Sea ice algae
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Antarctic krill consume diatoms and are eaten by nearly all higher predators
- Blue whales filter up to 3,600 kg of krill per day
- Leopard seals prey on penguins, seals, and krill
- Phytoplankton blooms are triggered by seasonal ice melt releasing iron