The Antarctic krill is a small crustacean about 6 cm (2.5 in) long that supports the ecosystem as a food source for many creatures. Currently, the population of Antarctic krill has been greatly reduced, seriously affecting the marine food chain, which includes fish, birds, and mammals that feed on krill.
Antarctic krill feed on ice algae that grow under the ice, but global warming has caused the ice pack to shrink, resulting in fewer ice algae and fewer krill. This has resulted in starvation among marine organisms.
Furthermore, krill fishing by humans is contributing to the decline in krill numbers. On the ground, krill is consumed as food for livestock and as an ingredient in supplements, and is caught on a large scale by corporations in many countries.
Species like krill, which are needed by many organisms in the ecosystem, are called "keystone species. The loss of keystone species has serious direct and indirect effects on many living creatures, leading to the collapse of ecosystems.
The attractiveness and value of the Earth in the macrocosm lies in its rich ecosystem of various life forms. Preventing the loss of ecosystems is the responsibility of the global human race, and there is not a moment to lose.
