Antarctic marine explorers reveal first biological changes after collapse of polar ice shelves

User rating: 4.5 / 5 after 51 vote(s)

A suspected new species of Shackletonia an amphipod crustacean sampled near Elephant Island Antarctic Pensisula during the RV Polarstern expedition ANTXXIII8 in the Weddell Sea 200607. Credit: C. dUdekem Royal Belgium Institute for Natural Sciences ...
A suspected new species of Shackletonia, an amphipod crustacean sampled near Elephant Island, Antarctic Pensisula, during the RV Polarstern expedition ANTXXIII/8 in the Weddell Sea 2006/07. Credit: © C. d'Udekem, Royal Belgium Institute for Natural Sciences, 2007

Once roofed by ice for millennia, a 10,000 square km portion of the Antarctic seabed represents a true frontier, one of Earth's most pristine marine ecosystems, made suddenly accessible to exploration by the collapse of the Larsen A and B ice shelves, 12 and five years ago respectively. Now it has yielded secrets to some 52 marine explorers who accomplished the seabed's first comprehensive biological survey during a 10-week expedition aboard the German research vessel Polarstern.


Full story »
All News summaries from General Science news
All News summaries for February 25, 2007

Scientists search for answers from the carbon in the clouds

2 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
An aerosol mass spectrometer developed by chemists from Aerodyne Research Inc. and Boston College is giving scientists who study airborne particles the technology they need to examine the life cycles of atmospheric ...

'Green' potato health risk can be eliminated by cutting away affected area

2 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
Potatoes that have turned 'green' can potentially contain a naturally occurring toxin called Glycoalkaloids (GA) and pose a risk to public health according to a review paper published in the latest online issue of SCI's Journal ...

N.M. researchers hope to cultivate 'calming herb'

5 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- The plant has been described by local residents as magical, its qualities almost mythical. The native herb yerba mansa, translated from Spanish as the "calming herb," has been used medicinally for ...

Population policy needed for the UK in order to combat climate change

5 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
The biggest contribution UK couples can make to combating climate change would be to have only two children or at least have one less than they first intended, argues an editorial published on BMJ.com today.

Zoo will reopen exhibit where 16 stingrays died

7 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- A zoo in suburban Chicago plans to reopen an exhibit where 16 stingrays died last week when a malfunction let the tank's water get too warm.
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive