Transcript Document

Zooplankton
Exploring life in the mid-Atlantic at
various depths down to 4 km (2.5
miles), 60 scientists from 13
countries on a two-month expedition
summer 2004 have surfaced a
wealth of new information and
insights, stunning images and marine
life specimens, several thought to be
species never before known to
science. August 5, the highlights and
preliminary results from the MARECO expedition 2004 was made
public.
Bathycyroe
Map of Area explored
including study sites
A Comb Jelly
MAR-ECO is an international
research project in which scientists
from 16 nations take part. Norway,
represented by the Institute of Marine
Research and the University of
Bergen, co-ordinates the project
which will enhance our understanding
of occurrence, distribution and
ecology of animals and animal
fosteri communities along the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge between Iceland and the
Azores.
Time period: 5 June - 4 August. (Leg 1: 5
June - 3 July, Leg 2: 4 July - 4 August)
Study area: Section of the mid-Atlantic Ridge
between Iceland and the Azores. Depth
range: 0-4000m
Vessels: RV G.O.Sars (entire period), MS
Loran (5-20 July).
Scientific crew: 60 scientists, students, and
technicians, from 13 countries (Iceland,
Portugal, Russia, USA, Germany, United
Kingdom, Austria, Finland, Denmark, France,
the Netherlands, the Faroe Islands, Norway)
Principal scientists: Leg 1: Olav Rune
Godoe (IMR, Norway), Leg 2: Odd Aksel
Bergstad, (IMR Norway), MS Loran: Jan Erik
Dyb, (Moere Research, Norway).
Port Calls: 3-5 July Horta, the Azores; 3
August Aberdeen, Scotland.
Approx. distance sailed: RV G.O. Sars:
6000 n.m. (11,112 km).
G.O Sars
MS Loran
Anoplogaster cornuta or the Fangtooth
•The fangtooth has a short deep body with
a large head and mouth. The body is
covered with small prickly scales.
Orange Roughy have a bright reddish orange
head and body and their mouth and gill
cavities are black. Their head is covered
with bony ridges and deep mucus
cavities. The dorsal fin has 6 spines (the
last one being the longest) and 15-18 rays.
•This species is dark
brown to black.
Inhabits deep, cold waters over steep
continental slopes, ocean ridges and
sea-mounts in the Eastern Atlantic:
Iceland to Morocco
•There are mucous cavities on the head
separated by serrated ridges. As the common
name suggests,this fish has very long pointed
teeth. The lower jaw fangs slide into pockets
in the roof of the mouth when the jaws close. Orange Roughy
•Young eat crustaceans and
adults eat fish.
•The Fangtooth grows to 17cm in length
feeds on crustaceans
and fish
The octopod is a
Member of the
Cephalopod family!
They have 8
arms!
It can be found in the
Continental Slope and
The mid Atlantic ridge!
Octopods have beaks which they
use to feed!
It is very RED in
Colour to warn
off predators and as camouflage
There are 2 groups of
cephalopods in the atlantic,
decapods (squid) and octopods.
Having short life
cycles may help
cephalopods spend a
large part of their life
as adults, giving the
advantage of having
more time to
reproduce.
They eat Shrimps
Most octopi only live for a year!!
Stauroteuthis synthesis: Deep-sea cirrate
Crabs and Fish,
But are eaten by
octopus.
The "suckers" on the arms are actually
photophores.
Whales,seals and
Humans!!!
Bottom
View
Side View
Cephalopods are softbodied animals that include
octopus, squids, cuttlefish
and nautilus
Bathypolypus arcticus
It is a deep sea octopus that is
typically found at depths from
200-600 m. This species of
octopus is very small. Deep sea
octopod generally do not have
ink sacks.
They only reproduce once and die!!
Loggerhead sea turtles are reptiles and belong to
the Cheloniidae family.
The loggerhead is characterised by its large head
with blunt jaws.
The carapace and flippers are a reddish – brown
colour and the plastron is yellow.
Adults grow to an average weight of 200 pounds.
Loggerhead’s jaws are adapted for crushing and grinding.
Their diet primarily exists of crabs, molluscs, shrimp, jellyfish
and vegetation.
They are found in coastal, tropical and sub tropical waters.
They are found worldwide but are best known from the eastern Atlantic near the Azores
and Madeira.
Loggerheads nest on ocean beaches and occasionally on estuarine shorelines with
suitable sand. Nests are typically made between the high tide line and the dune front.
Sea turtles hatch throughout the year but mostly in summer. the young turtles may take three to seven days to
dig their way to the surface.
Hatchlings usually wait until night to emerge from the nest.
Emerging at night reduces exposure to daytime predators.
When a hatchling reaches the surf, it dives into a wave and rides the undertow out to sea.
During the first year (lost year), many species of sea turtles are rarely seen.
Most researchers believe that they ride prevailing surface currents, situating themselves in floating seaweed where
they are camouflaged and where they can find food.
Loggerheads reach sexual maturity at a carapace size of 79 cm (31 in.) courtship activity usually occurs several
weeks before the nesting season.
Like other turtles, sea turtles lay eggs. They must come ashore to do so.
Females nest a few weeks after mating and during the warmest months of the year.
Females usually lay between one and nine clutches (groups) of eggs per season and nest every two to three years.
Migration habits differ not only among species but also among different
populations of the same species. Some sea turtle populations nest and
feed in the same general areas; others migrate great distances.
Loggerheads leave foraging areas and travel on breeding migrations that
range from a few to thousands of kilometres (1 kilometre = 0.62 miles).
The loggerhead turtle was listed as threatened throughout its range on July 28, 1978
and its status has not changed Loggerhead populations in Honduras, Mexico,
Colombia, Israel, Turkey, Bahamas, Cuba, Greece, Japan, and Panama have been
declining. This decline continues and is primarily attributed to shrimp trawling,
coastal development, increased human use of nesting beaches, and pollution.
Loggerheads are the most abundant species in U.S. coastal waters, and are often
captured incidental to shrimp trawling. Natural predators include fishes, dogs,
seabirds, raccoons and ghost crabs which eat 90% of hatchlings.Shrimping is thought
to have played a significant role in the population declines observed for the
loggerhead.
Loggerhead sea turtles are reptiles and belong to
the Cheloniidae family.
The loggerhead is characterised by its large head
with blunt jaws.
The carapace and flippers are a reddish – brown
colour and the plastron is yellow.
Adults grow to an average weight of 200 pounds.
Loggerhead’s jaws are adapted for crushing and grinding.
Their diet primarily exists of crabs, molluscs, shrimp, jellyfish
and vegetation.
They are found in coastal, tropical and sub tropical waters.
They are found worldwide but are best known from the eastern Atlantic near the Azores
and Madeira.
Loggerheads nest on ocean beaches and occasionally on estuarine shorelines with
suitable sand. Nests are typically made between the high tide line and the dune front.
Sea turtles hatch throughout the year but mostly in summer. the young turtles may take three to seven days to
dig their way to the surface.
Hatchlings usually wait until night to emerge from the nest.
Emerging at night reduces exposure to daytime predators.
When a hatchling reaches the surf, it dives into a wave and rides the undertow out to sea.
During the first year (lost year), many species of sea turtles are rarely seen.
Most researchers believe that they ride prevailing surface currents, situating themselves in floating seaweed where
they are camouflaged and where they can find food.
Loggerheads reach sexual maturity at a carapace size of 79 cm (31 in.) courtship activity usually occurs several
weeks before the nesting season.
Like other turtles, sea turtles lay eggs. They must come ashore to do so.
Females nest a few weeks after mating and during the warmest months of the year.
Females usually lay between one and nine clutches (groups) of eggs per season and nest every two to three years.
Migration habits differ not only among species but also among different
populations of the same species. Some sea turtle populations nest and
feed in the same general areas; others migrate great distances.
Loggerheads leave foraging areas and travel on breeding migrations that
range from a few to thousands of kilometres (1 kilometre = 0.62 miles).
The loggerhead turtle was listed as threatened throughout its range on July 28, 1978
and its status has not changed Loggerhead populations in Honduras, Mexico,
Colombia, Israel, Turkey, Bahamas, Cuba, Greece, Japan, and Panama have been
declining. This decline continues and is primarily attributed to shrimp trawling,
coastal development, increased human use of nesting beaches, and pollution.
Loggerheads are the most abundant species in U.S. coastal waters, and are often
captured incidental to shrimp trawling. Natural predators include fishes, dogs,
seabirds, raccoons and ghost crabs which eat 90% of hatchlings.Shrimping is thought
to have played a significant role in the population declines observed for the
loggerhead.
MAR-ECO is an international research project in which scientists from 16
nations take part. The ship G.O.Sars (left) went on an expedition along the
north Atlantic ridge from Iceland to the Azores as shown below.
Exploring life in the mid-Atlantic at various depths down to 4 km (2.5 miles), 60 scientists from 13 countries
found lots of information on marine life including species which are believed to have never been known to
science before. Here is a selection of their findings:
Zooplankton are tiny organisms which live in the sea, they
eat algae and produce high density pellets which sink to the
bottom faster than the algae do, so are an important link in
the food chain. Without them the larger fish lower down in
the ocean would not get food as fast. There were many
types found on the cruise, right are some examples.
The group of animals known as cephalopods include
squids and cuttlefish. They have large heads and
tentacles with suckers or hooks. Their lifespan is
approximately 2 years. During the cruise there were
new types of cephalopods discovered as well as great
footage of them in their natural environment.
Rachael Davies, Matthew Smedley and Hazel Galbraith, Ellon Academy, Scotland