But what makes the Ross Sea important is the vast sea of pack ice that in the spring and summer provides a wealth of phytoplankton and krill that supports what, till recently, has been a virtually intact near-shore ecosystem.
Dar ceea ce conferă importanţă Mării Ross este extinsa banchiză care primăvara şi vara aduce o bogăţie de fitoplancton şi mini creveţi care susţine ceea ce, pană recent, constituia un ecosistem de ţărm practic virgin.