New pictures reveal rich Antarctic marine life in area of rapid climate change

Octopus seemed to be particularly common in the study area and were found in most trawls. They seem to have undergone a major recent radiation centered in Antarctica.

Bizarre collection of marine creatures
As part of an international study on sea surface to seabed biodiversity a research team from across Europe, USA, Australia and South Africa onboard the BAS Royal Research Ship James Clark Ross sampled a bizarre collection of marine creatures from the Bellingshausen Sea, West Antarctica - one of the fastest warming seas in the world. Research cruise leader Dr. David Barnes of British Antarctic Survey said,

Amphipod (sand hopper). Gigantism (due to high oxygen levels in polar waters) was first demonstrated in amphipods and they are an important group that often take the role of animals such as crabs (which are virtually absent in Antarctica).

The Southern Ocean is rich in biodiversity
"Few people realise just how rich in biodiversity the Southern Ocean is - even a single trawl can reveal a fascinating array of weird and wonderful creatures as would be seen on a coral reef. These animals are potentially very good indicators of environmental change as many occur in the shallows, which are changing fast, but also in deeper water which will warm much less quickly. We can now begin to get a better understanding of how the ecosystem will adapt to change. Our research on species living in the waters surrounding the BAS Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula shows that some species are incredibly sensitive to temperature changes. Our new studies on the diverse range of marine creatures living in the deep waters of the Bellingshausen Sea will help us build a more complete picture of Antarctica's marine biodiversity and give us an important baseline against which we can compare future impact on marine life."

BAS biologist Dr. Sophie Fielding studies krill - a small crustacean that is the main food for penguins, seals and whales. During the research cruise she found remarkable variations in species living within a relatively small area. She said, "Changes at the Earth's surface directly affect the surrounding ocean and the marine animals living there. For example accelerating glacier melt, collapse of ice shelves and shrinking winter sea-ice all seem to be impacting sea life. We want to understand that impact and what the implications for the food chain may be."

Dr. Stefanie Kaiser is a German specialist on small seabed animals. She said, "Although many of these animals are tiny, their behaviour helps us paint a much bigger picture in terms of how marine life may react to changes to the environment."