Sea Ice: Nematoda

Arctic sea ice harbors several species of Nematodes - some (like Theristov melnikovi) endemic to the ice system. In nearshore shallow waters, they can dominate the ice communities. Their nutrition within the ice system is not resolved. They might feed on dissolved organic matter, bacteria, algae or other animals.

Sea ice nematode from Little Diomede, spring 2005. Gradinger/Bluhm/NOAA

 

Important refernence:

Tchesunov, A.V., and Riemann, F. (1995). Arctic sea ice nematodes (Monhysteroidea), with descriptions of Cryonema crassum gen. n., sp. n. and C. tenue sp. n. Nematologica 41, 35–50.