Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/17/2012 - 20:17
Forums
Ecosystem Study of the Chukchi Shoal

Hope you're enjoying your trip so far. We're just about to start school. I just wanted to mention how much more colorful the organisms seems to be on the bottom of the Arctic than on the Antarctic. I was wondering if water temperature or depth had anything to do with it? Most of where I traveled in the Antarctic is -1.8 C and 400 meters or so. What's it look like where you are at?

Amber

Mon, 08/20/2012 - 09:58

Deanna Wheeler

Hi Amber--I asked a scientist who dives in Antarctica and studies epi-benthic organisms. She says that there are very colorful organisms in the Antarctic. We are in about 39-50 meters of water here. Of course there will be different organisms at different depths but some of the same organisms are located at both locations. Her preference for colors is... Antarctica;) Since I have not been to Antarctica, I am loving the variety of organisms in the Arctic, especially the larger ones although there are exceptions. I just saw copepod lay eggs. That was pretty cool.
Thanks for the question.
Deanna