News Animals

Sponges boom thanks to Antarctic ice shelf bust

Previously thought to grow at a slow pace, the sea creatures exploded in number

Glass sponges provide habitat for feather and brittle stars in frigid Antarctic waters. The creatures (shown here in the western Weddell Sea) made a surprising emergence following the collapse of the Larsen A ice shelf.

Thomas Lundalv, Alfred Wegener Institute

By Jessica Shugart

- More than 2 years ago

When a catastrophic ice shelf collapse in Antarctica opened up prime ocean real estate, enterprising delicate creatures called glass sponges showed up with unprecedented speed to stake their claim.