Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 10/11/2011 - 11:46
Forums
Adaptations of Marine Worms in Antarctica

Hi Michael,

Is there a reason your expedition started in late August at the end of the Antarctic winter? I think I understand why you wouldn't start any earlier, but could you carry out your project at any other time of year?

Thanks, Steve

Fri, 10/14/2011 - 12:52

Michael League

Steve,Great question! Yes, we could have done this at basically any time of
year, but there was a really good reason to deploy at WinFly (the end of
the Antarctic winter). In August, McMurdo is just starting to receive
daylight and outside operations can begin. This is also the time that
light begins to make it through the ice and down into the water,
starting a plankton bloom in Antarctica. The full plankton bloom occurs
in Dec. - Jan., and there is so much plankton in the water that it
becomes very difficult to see.
So, yes, we could have done this at a different time, but August -
November is an incredible time to be diving here in McMurdo Sound and
was the best time for our work.
Thanks for following and asking such a good question.
Mike