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Creature from the Canyon

January 2, 2017

Photographed in a drop of water, this shrimp-like crustacean is tiny—about the size of a fingernail. It comes from Barrow Canyon, a seafloor feature in the Arctic Ocean that’s particularly rich in marine life. What’s special about this spot? At Barrow Canyon, sea ice melts away earlier in the season, so life-giving sunlight penetrates the water sooner. Currents, wind, and the shape of the canyon also encourage vigorous circulation of important nutrients. As a result, creatures great and small abound in the area, including birds, whales, and fish. Small swimming animals such as this crustacean are an important part of the dinner menu. (Photo by Chris Linder, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)