Tiny krill are turning up in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Scientists want to know why

Antarctic krill—key prey and nutrient recyclers in the Southern Ocean—may also be using hydrothermal vents as habitat, according to a report in Communications Biology. Researchers led by Kim Bernard of Oregon State University describe krill as fundamental to the Antarctic ecosystem, feeding penguins, seals and whales and supporting phytoplankton growth through nutrient recycling. They note the region is warming rapidly, potentially disrupting krill populations. The new observations came in late 2024 in the Bransfield Strait, off the Antarctic Peninsula, during a National Geographic and Rolex expedition using a remotely operated vehicle about 3,600 feet below the surface. While studying the vent’s geology and microbiology, the team recorded krill appearing at the site—previously unreported for vents—raising questions about reproduction and survival.