( ike crustaceans (amphipods) which thou...)Census of Marine Life explorers surprised by diversity, density of Arctic creatures

Animal density far higher than expected

"Overall, the densities of animals are much higher than expected," says Census researcher Dr. Bodil Bluhm of the UAF. "It now appears possible to confirm that the rich biodiversity surprising deep-sea explorers worldwide exists as well in deep Arctic waters, the most under-studied area of the ocean world."

Baseline data about such long-inaccessible marine species will have growing importance for measuring impacts of climate change and, should polar caps continue receding, hypothetical new disturbances on the northern ocean such as energy exploitation, fishing and shipping.

The research compares species distribution in the shelf, slope and deep sea regions (the deep sea is generally agreed to begin at 1,000 meters). Investigations of the seawater's physical and chemical properties augment this biological data, revealing relationships between the biological communities, water temperature, salinity and nutrient loads.

The scientists operated around the clock to maximize expensive ship time, sampling at 14 locations in all; five involved depths 3,300 meters and more below ice. The explorers employed a suite of tools to conduct "gentle sampling," including a remotely operated underwater vehicle, a benthic camera platform, under-ice cameras and SCUBA divers, complemented by pelagic nets, benthic box cores and an ice corer.

They also return with the most comprehensive and best-resolution imagery under the ice, in the water column and at the seafloor of the Canada Basin.

"Modern technology has opened a window on this amazing world for the first time," says scientist Dr. Russ Hopcroft of UAF. "The imagery obtained of the mid-water and seafloor shows many life forms, such as soft bodied zooplankton, deep sea cucumbers and soft corals. The few explorers in this area before us had n
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Source:Census of Marine Life