Animals found 2,500 Feet Below Antarctica's Largest Ice Shelf Shock Scientists

Scientists drilling through the largest ice shelf were surprised to find existence of life far away from the ocean.

According to Christian Science Monitor, researchers drilling through the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica found fish, jelly fish and crustaceans at a depth of 740 meters or 2,500 feet. The findings were made with submersible cameras, approximately 530 miles from the ocean.

"I have been investigating these types of environments for much of my career, and although I knew it would be difficult, I have wanted to access this system for years because of its scientific importance. Findings such as these -- gaining an understanding of the ice sheet dynamics and its interaction with ocean and sediment, as well as establishing the structure of its ecosystem -- are especially rewarding. It's a big pay-off in delayed gratification," said Ross Powell, a chief scientist with Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling (WISSARD) project in a news release.

While rocks melting out of ice sheet collide with the surface underneath, making living difficult, it is a surprise that the fish survive in an environment devoid of nutrition. Researchers said the debris from the melting ice may carry the required nutrition to support life.

"Finding fish or any other type of life, under an ice shelf is by itself not novel. However, our WISSARD data will establish for the first time sources of carbon and energy for higher trophic levels in this most southerly marine ecosystem. Our data will also provide important information on the connectivity between subglacial environments and ice-shelf productivity, allowing us to predict first responders to a warming climate," said John Priscu another member of the research team.