Bhadra

Definition:

Frozen seawater (not from glacier) it's a shifting puzzle of ice slabs that grow in winter and shrinks summer.

The Ecosystem:

It acts as a floating forest. Algae grow inside the ice feeding tiny shrimp which then feed the entire food chain.

Who lives there?:

• Polar bears-use ice as a "floor" to hunt seals.

•Seals- use it as a "nursery" to have babies and to hide from sharks.

•Walruses-use it as a "moving bed" to rest between dives for food.

•Whales-narwhals and belugas use the cracks int eh ice to hide from orcas.

Why it matters:

It's the foundation of the North.Without the ice, the animals lose their home ,their food source, and their protection all at once.