A sea-ice pixel is not a habitat map

Sea-ice concentration becomes an ecological question only when connected to the geometry and function of habitat. Two hypothetical cells with the same ice percentage illustrate differences in floe arrangement, connected water, edge, and exposure. The essay then adds seabed depth, prey access, seasonal persistence, and the limits of coarse satellite cells, drawing on NSIDC explanations and USGS polar-bear habitat research. Compatible observation dates matter because drift can rearrange the surface, while an animal's mapped movement can include movement of the ice beneath it. Occupancy is not treated as proof of preference, successful feeding, or fitness. A layered interpretation therefore starts with the measured ice variable, identifies the proposed habitat mechanism, and tests it with appropriate biological evidence rather than decorative map overlays.