New life emerges as the ice melts in the Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth and is headed towards being ice free in the summer. However, this provides opportunities for new ecosystems to develop, biologist Karl Attard argues. The ice in the Arctic is melting quickly, especially in summer. But from an ecosystem perspective, the melting of sea ice can also benefit certain species. Less ice in the Arctic in the summer will allow the sun's rays to penetrate the sea and stimulate photosynthesis, which could provide better opportunities for certain plants and marine animals. This is the perspective from Karl Attard, Assistant Professor in Marine Science at the Department of Biology at the University of Southern Denmark, who researches the marine environment in the Arctic. Plants in the sea need sunlight for photosynthesis.