Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World

Feature:
Irreplaceable Wildlife in A Warming World
Graphic of irreplacable species, emperor penguin.
We are connected to each other, to our environment. From faraway places to our own backyard. But climate change is now changing the Earth as we know it, and animals and plants from the Arctic to the Everglades are feeling the consequences.
Key Resources:

Antarctic Krill

What Antarctic krill lack in size (they are usually just a few centimeters long), they make up for in sheer abundance. These shrimp-like crustaceans are so numerous, they play a vital role in supporting ocean food webs and feed many Antarctic inhabitants like whales, penguins, seals, seabirds, and squid.
Photo Credit:
Flip Nicklin / Minden Pictures / ILCP (Part of Irreplaceable Wildlife Photo Exhibit)
Divider

  1. Subscribe to Earthjustice:
    Get email updates on our work to protect endangered species and other important issues!
       Please leave this field empty

  2. Join Earthjustice
    Support our vital work to preserve our natural heritage, promote a clean energy future, and safeguard our health.

Antarctic Krill

Scientific Name: 
Euphausia superba
IUCN Red List: 
Not Evaluated
Endangered Species Act List: 
No data

One of the true unsung heroes of the oceans, Antarctic krill form the base of the incredibly rich Antarctic food chain. What these shrimp-like crustaceans lack in size (they are usually just a few centimeters long), they make up for in sheer abundance. In fact, scientists estimate that in terms of biomass, Antarctic krill are among the most abundant animal species on the planet. Krill play a vital role in feeding many Antarctic inhabitants, such as whales, penguins, seals, seabirds, and squid.

Climate Change Impacts

The survival of Antarctic krill greatly depend on the availability of pack ice. Pack ice provides natural cave-like structures that krill use to hide from predators, especially during their early stages of development. The pack ice also sustains a rich bed of ice algae, which are an important food source for krill. As pack ice steadily melts due to global warming, Antarctic krill are among the first be impacted, causing ripple effects throughout the Antarctic food chain.

Irreplaceable in Your Neighborhood

The Earthjustice traveling photo exhibit, Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World, is available to bring education, scholarship and research to your community. For more information on booking the exhibit, including fees, exhibit specifications, requirements and descriptions, please contact Nadine de Coteau at 1-800-584-6460.