Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 03/21/2008 - 08:27
Forums
Bering Ecosystem Change

Hey mr K just wanted to ask you if you and your colleagues had seen or cought any wildlife/fish on your ship? Do you have any pictures of any sea animals like otters or seals? 

Fri, 03/21/2008 - 14:01

Craig Kasemodel

No otter pictures, they are at the Aluetian Islands and Alaska peninsula. Almost every seal and walrus we see are in the patches of open water in the ice. Typically, they surface for air and dive back down. Unless you are looking at that spot with binoculars, it is very easy to miss them. One of the researchers on board, Jim Lovvern of University of Wyoming, is trying to catch Spectacled Eiders for biopsies and the walrus team, Chad Jay and Tony Fishbach of USGS, is taking tissue samples for dna analysis of the walruses they tag. Also, the team of Lee Cooper and Jackie Grebmier of University of Maryland is taking the organisms from the benthic sampling (mostly mollusks, clams, worms, and brittlestars) for analysis back at their lab in Maryland.

Mon, 03/24/2008 - 09:17

Guest

what are brittlestars?
 
 
   by:shanea 

Tue, 03/25/2008 - 15:01

Craig Kasemodel

Brittle stars are echinoderms, closely related to starfish. They crawl across the sea-floor using their flexible arms as "legs" for locomotion. The ophiuroids generally have five long slender, whip-like arms which may reach up to 60 centimeters (2 feet) in length on the largest specimens. They have radial symmetry.Many are scavengers or detritivores. Small organic particles are moved into the mouth by the tube feet. Ophiuroids may also prey on small crustaceans or worms.