Arctic Calanus
Calanus glacialis
Calanus glacialis is a small crustacean that drifts in cold Arctic seas.
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About this species
Species identity
Calanus glacialis is a small crustacean that drifts in cold Arctic seas. Although only a few millimeters long, it is one of the most important animals in northern ocean ecosystems.
It feeds on microscopic algae during the bright Arctic spring and summer. The energy it stores — often visible as a large oil droplet inside its body — helps it survive the long, dark winter when food is scarce. This stored energy also makes it a rich food source for fish, seabirds, and even whales.
By grazing on plankton and being eaten by larger animals, Calanus glacialis helps move energy from tiny plant-like organisms at the base of the food web up to top predators in Arctic waters.
Where it lives
Calanus glacialis lives in cold Arctic and subarctic seas. It is found in the Arctic Ocean and nearby northern waters such as the Barents Sea, around Greenland, and parts of the northern Atlantic and Pacific.
It is closely linked to cold, ice-influenced waters and is especially common in areas where seasonal sea ice melts in spring, triggering plankton growth.
Role in the ecosystem
Arctic Calanus helps explain how marine food webs function through its ecological role, habitat use, and connection to broader ecosystem change.
Scientific reference
Citation
Ocean Literacy Connections
This resource can be explored through Ocean biodiversity.
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