The Friends of Charles Darwin

Krill, a major component in the diets of many Antarctic species such as whales, penguins and seals, appears to be undergoing a major decline. Since the 1970s, numbers of the shrimp-like creatures have fallen by 80% in waters near the Antarctic Peninsula, UK scientists tell Nature magazine. The crustacean feeds on algae under the ice so the fall may be linked to recent warming that has reduced sea-ice cover. The change could have a big impact on the whole Southern Ocean food web.