Other Cool Polar Science Projects
I've been spending lots of time in the Crary Lab today, and the place is humming with scientists engaged in very interesting projects. The halls of the building are lined with posters that illustrate the work of teams that come down here. its a pretty unique environment in that everyone here is engaged in very serious, cutting-edge research!
I had a chance to interview 2 animal physiologists from U.C.Davis who are studying the impacts of climate change- a subject I'm both interested in and concerned about. Rising temperatures around the world will certainly affect species that live here in Antarctica. The fish that Britt Bjelde and Erin Flynn focus their work on are uniquely adapted to survive in very, very cold, oxygen-rich oceans. Britt and Erin are studying emerald rock cod and dragonfish, respectively, two species very specialized to live in this environment. For example, emerald rockcod are able to produce an antifreeze protein to help them thrive in waters that are below freezing!
A juvenile emerald rock cod in the Crary Lab aquarium.
Animal physiologist Erin Flynn at the Crary Lab.
Both Britt and Erin are interested in the effects that higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will have on these fish species. As we burn more fossil fuels around the world, it causes carbon dioxide levels to go up. As a result, temperatures increase and oceans become more acidic. We don't know what affect the stress of both warmer temperatures and acidification will have on fish species. Early studies suggest lots of possible effects. Some fish species appear to be tolerant to changing temperature but vulnerable when hit with acidification too.... but we need more information.
So, Britt and Erin's lab group are running a few different experiments on the third level of the Crary Lab. There are many, many boxes of water with tubes running out of them. Divers will capture both fish and fish eggs from the ocean nearby to go into the boxes. Inside the boxes, the scientists have manipulated the environment to be rich in carbon dioxide (which will make them more acidic) or have higher temperatures. Once the fish are captured, they will be placed in the boxes and monitored constantly for variations in heart rate, breathing, growth and development. After 4 weeks, the scientists will preserve the fish so that they can be studied in the lab for physical signs of stress within their bodies.
Animal physiologist Britt Bjelde with the experiemental aquarium.
Can the fish adapt to their changing environment fast enough to survive a warmer world? And what will this mean for species around the world?
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