Krill

Tiny animals such as krill eat plankton.

Fish and even whales and seals feed on the krill.

In some parts of the ocean, krill populations have dropped by over 80 percent.

Krill like to breed in really cold water near sea ice.

Algae feed large swarms of Antarctic krill, which are the main food for large predators, including the region’s Adélie penguins.

Blue whales feed on krill.

Harvesting finfish and krill are potential sources of income.

Scientists say humpbacks face a combination of other threats including the overharvesting of krill, pollution, habitat degradation, and entanglement in fishing nets.

On a moonless summer night in Hawaii, krill, fish and crabs swirl through a beam of light as two researchers peer into the water above a vibrant reef.

“This science relates to krill and krill ecosystems, whale acoustic monitoring and Southern Ocean ecosystems,” the spokesperson said.