Latest news with #AustralianAntarcticDivision
Miami Herald
04-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Antarctic voyage reveals creatures of the deep while exploring glacier. See them
Armed with lab equipment and two months of food and clothes, around 60 researchers boarded the RSV Nuyina icebreaker ship for its first scientific voyage in March. They are taking part in the Denman Marine Voyage, a trip from Australia to Antarctica to study the Denman Glacier and its ecosystem. Now, nearing the end of the journey, the research team is reporting some of its results and the interesting creatures it is finding along the way. The voyage launched from Hobart, Tasmania, with 45 crew members, 25 support staff and 60 scientists from four organizations — the Australian Antarctic Division, the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership and Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, according to an April 2 news release shared by the Australian Antarctic Division to McClatchy News. 'The main aim of the voyage is to better understand how factors such as warmer ocean waters are influencing changes in the (62-mile-long) Denman Glacier — which has retreated (3 miles) in the past two decades,' according to the organization. 'If the Denman were to melt entirely, it could contribute about (5 feet) to global sea level rise.' Researchers have collected data on conductivity, temperature and depth of the seawater, as well as 'ancient organic material' and debris from the ice sheet collected in sediment cores from the seafloor, the Australian Antarctic Division said. Some teams are also studying how clouds form in the Southern Ocean, hoping to improve climate modeling. But another part of the voyage is understanding the region's biodiversity, and some creatures seemed to volunteer for science. In the first five weeks of the trip, a 'sea butterfly' or 'delicate pteropod,' was pulled into the icebreaker's wet well, according to the Australian Antarctic Division. 'It has started producing eggs in the aquarium, allowing researchers to document pteropod egg development for the first time,' according to the release. It's a species called Clio pyramidata, and was nicknamed 'Clio' by the team, the organization said. 'The team is super excited about having the little creature and observing it and looking after it, so that it tells all the secrets that have been hidden until now,' researcher Laura Herraiz Borreguero told ABC News, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Aside from the 'sea butterfly,' researchers also collected sea spiders, sea stars, octopus and 'sea pigs,' according to the release. Sea pigs, or scotoplanes, are species of sea cucumbers with appendages that make them appear like small pigs, and they are often pink in color, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 'The sea pig spends its days snuffling though the muddy sediments on the seafloor, eating bits of dead algae and animals that have fallen from the surface,' the aquarium said. 'When something big, like a whale fall, sinks to the seafloor, huge herds of sea pigs gather nearby to feast on the rich organic sediments from the decaying carcass.' The RSV Nuyina and its passengers will return to Tasmania in early May, about a 3,100-mile journey, where the data collected from the research voyage can be studied and logged, according to the release. Tasmania is an island territory off the southeastern coast of Australia.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists discover strange life on Antarctica's ocean floor
In the beginning of 2025, a team of scientists discovered a pristine underwater ecosystem in the Antarctic (Southern) Ocean after a large iceberg broke away from the massive continent. Now, only a few months later, a new team of scientists exploring the Antarctic Ocean floor has captured and documented several strange species that call the cold floor home. The crew on the RSV Nuyina is on a mission to study the effects of warming sea temperatures on the Denman Glacier. DON'T MISS: According to the Australian Antarctic Program website: 'The Denman Glacier is one of the fastest retreating glaciers in East Antarctica, with the potential to increase global sea levels by 1.5 metres.' Part of the team's mission is also to study and reveal what life exists on the seafloor near the glacier to understand the biodiversity of species for future conservation. Path the RSV Nuyina is taking to reach the Denman glacier on it's groundbreaking voyage. (Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division) Using a beam trawler, the team pulled up heavy mud containing several interesting bottom-dwelling creatures. A camera was also deployed to the ocean floor so the team could observe the creatures without disturbing them. SEE ALSO: Additionally, the ship is equipped with a specialized "wet well" which allows researchers to gently pull up small, fragile creatures from the water and into a tank where they can be collected and observed. Scientists are able to observe and take care of captured specimens in aquariums onboard the RSV Nuyina. (Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division) 'Nobody has ever done this in this area—it is real 'voyage of discovery' stuff,' Craig Johnson, Senior Scientist and project lead for the benthic imagery team for the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science on the Denman Marine Voyage, said in a blog post published on April 4. 'The silence in the room gives way to sounds of delight as all manner of animals come into view. Bloated sea pigs and other species of sea cucumber, brittle stars, and sea stars feed on the organic material in the sediment, while spectacular feather stars (crinoids), sponges, fan worms, hydroids, and sea whips (octocorals) filter their food from the water.' This gelatinous-looking blob is called a "sea pig," and is a type of sea cucumber that was collected by scientists on the Antarctic ocean floor. (Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division) One of the species that has garnered public attention is the sea pig. No, it isn't an actual aquatic pig living on the bottom of the ocean; it's a type of sea cucumber that was named for its pig-like appearance. Another misnomer species the scientists collected is the sea butterfly. Called a butterfly for its fluttering appearance while swimming, this creature is actually a type of sea snail! Called a "sea butterfly" for its fluttering appearance when swimming in the water, this creature collected by the team of scientists is a type of sea snail. (Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division) Those who suffer from a fear of spiders may not want to know that large sea spiders were also collected from the ocean floor. Despite their creepy, spindly appearance, sea spiders are actually more closely related to crabs and crustaceans than to the arachnids we all know and (sometimes) love. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's news outlet, ABC News, some of the scientists onboard the vessel believe that some of the species they've collected and observed could be new to science. In addition to this research, other teams on the RSV Nuyina are investigating how clouds are formed over the Antarctic Ocean. The voyage will make its return to Hobart, Australia, in early May. Written with files from ABC News and Live Science. Thumbnail image supplied by the Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division.
Express Tribune
03-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Even Antarctica's penguins fall under Trump's tariff radar
Listen to article A group of remote, uninhabited volcanic islands near Antarctica, home to penguins, has been swept into US President Donald Trump's sweeping new trade tariffs, sparking confusion and mockery over the inclusion of territories with no population or recorded exports. Heard Island and McDonald Islands, a glacial-covered Australian external territory accessible only by a two-week boat journey from Perth, were named among the countries and territories subject to a 10% tariff on goods, according to a list published by the White House. The islands, which have no permanent residents and last received human visitors nearly a decade ago, were listed separately from Australia alongside other Australian external territories, including the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, and Norfolk Island. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded with irony on Thursday, saying: 'Nowhere on Earth is safe.' Norfolk Island, home to around 2,200 residents, received a harsher 29% tariff, despite limited trade with the United States. The island's administrator, George Plant, disputed official data suggesting it exported over US$650,000 worth of goods, including US$413,000 in leather footwear to the US in 2023. 'There are no known exports from Norfolk Island to the United States and no tariffs or known non-tariff trade barriers on goods coming to Norfolk Island,' Plant said. Export data for Heard and McDonald Islands was even more puzzling. The World Bank reported US$1.4 million in exports to the US in 2022, primarily 'machinery and electrical' goods, despite the islands having no buildings, no port infrastructure, and no permanent inhabitants. Trade experts and observers questioned the accuracy of the data and the rationale behind targeting such remote locations. Albanese said the inclusion of these territories 'exemplifies the randomness and reach of the tariff list.' The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Antarctic Division, and the White House have yet to comment.
Wall Street Journal
03-04-2025
- Science
- Wall Street Journal
Trump's Tariffs Are Truly Global. Just Ask the Penguins of McDonald Islands.
King penguins in the Australian territory of Heard Island. (Australian Antarctic Division/AFP via Getty Images)
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fragile sea creature sucked inside Aussie ship begins spawning eggs: 'Secrets hidden'
A fragile creature that was drawn into an Australian ship during a remote voyage has begun to lay eggs. The delicate 'sea butterfly' was discovered inside the icebreaker RSV Nuyina during a voyage to East Antarctica and then placed inside an aquarium tank to see what happened next. The study is part of a mission to understand the region which is undergoing a rapid change as temperatures warm. The Denman Marine Voyage's goal is to research a little-known glacier and the rare and elusive creatures that live around its waters. It pulls together 45 crew, 25 support staff and 60 scientists from four research organisations. It's the first time researchers have been able to monitor the development of eggs laid by this species of sea butterfly, which resembles an iris inside a narrow vase. The crew have named the animal Clio because it's a pteropod with the scientific name Clio pyramidata. Related: Distant 'music' in outer space leads to new discovery Ordinarily, the free swimming sea snail would be killed by nets used by researchers wanting to study it. But in this case, a specialised system was created to allow the gentle flow of water into a wet lab so they can carry on their lifecycle unharmed. 'The team is super excited about having the little creature, and observing it and looking after it, so it tells all of the secrets that have been hidden until now,' Dr Laura Herraiz Borreguero from the CSIRO said. 😳 World hidden beneath Antarctic ice reveals staggering reality ☠️ Fears tiny Antarctic creature with 'important' role has been interrupted 🦖 'Unimaginable' theory emerges about icy continent Studying the 100km-long Denman Glacier is the focus of the mission. It has melted at a disturbingly fast rate, retreating by 5km in the last 20 years. If it were to melt completely, the sea level would rise by an estimated 1.5 metres, creating huge changes to the world's coastlines, destroying homes, contaminating water, and ruining agricultural crops. Located just 5,000km south off the coast of Australia, the crews say its findings will be 'crucial for Australia's future and the welfare of the global community'. The mission is in its fifth week. Researchers from the Australian Antarctic Division, the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership and Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, are working 24-hour shifts to gather information. They're collecting ice cores from the sea floor, studying clouds to improve climate modelling, and investigating marine life using nets and cameras, including sea spiders and sea pigs that grow to the size of a human hand, sea stars that are bigger than dinner plates, and several species believed to be new to science. The ship is expected to return to Hobart in early May. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
