The global carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is exchanged between the atmosphere, oceans, and land. It plays a critical role in regulating Earth's climate and maintaining the health of ecosystems. One key component of the global carbon cycle is the ocean biological pump, which involves the transfer of carbon from the surface ocean to the deep ocean through the sinking of organic matter. This process is largely driven by tiny organisms known as phytoplankton, which use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into organic matter.

Antarctic krill are a fundamental component of the ocean biological pump. These small, shrimp-like creatures are found in abundance in the Southern Ocean and are a primary food source for a variety of marine animals, including whales, seals, and penguins. Krill feed on phytoplankton and convert the carbon in their diet into their own biomass. When krill die, their bodies sink to the seafloor, carrying the carbon they have accumulated with them. This process, known as krill-mediated carbon export, is a critical part of the ocean biological pump in the Southern Ocean.

Amazingly, Antarctic krill are the only species that surpass humans in terms of biomass, meaning the total mass of organisms, and are the only species on Earth that thrive more than humans.