Latest news with #DenmanMarineVoyage
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.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Strange 'sea pigs,' sea spiders and a spawning 'butterfly' discovered on Antarctic ocean floor by scientists
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Strange creatures straight out of a science-fiction movie have been captured by scientists off the coast of Antarctica. Pink and bulbous "sea pigs", hand-sized sea spiders and delicate sea butterflies are among the bizarre animals hauled up from the ocean floor by a team of Australian researchers aboard the icebreaker ship RSV Nuyina, which is on a 60-day voyage across the Southern Ocean to the Denman Glacier. Some of the weird wildlife may even be previously undiscovered. "[We've collected] a really large diversity of a broad suite of marine life, and likely some new species to science," Jan Strugnell, a professor of marine biology at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, told ABC News. The RSV Nuyina was launched for the Denman Marine Voyage to investigate the effects of warming sea temperatures on the Denman Glacier, which is located about 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometres) south of Australia and has already retreated 3.1 miles (5 km) between 1996 and 2017/2018. It is considered the fastest-melting glacier in East Antarctica. Along the way, the ship's researchers have been trawling the sea floor to bring up a huge variety of unusual organisms from the deep. One of the strangest creatures was a sea pig. These bizarre animals are a type of sea cucumber and measure around 1.5 to 6 inches (4 to 15 centimeters) long. They get their name from their squishy, bloated bodies and stubby little legs, which make them vaguely resemble pigs. Sea pigs live on the sea floor, between 3,300 to 19,500 feet (1 to 6 km) below the ocean's surface, and feed on the organic material that falls from the upper ocean layers, sometimes called "marine snow." The scientists also fished out sea spiders "as big as your hand" and sea stars "that grow to the size of a dinner plate," according to Strugnell. Sea spiders are not true spiders, but instead belong to a separate group of arthropods, more closely related to crabs than the arachnids that live on land. They have eight long, thin legs and tiny bodies, with some species having a leg span of up to 20 inches (51 cm). There are over 1,300 species of sea spider, which are found on the sea floor in a wide range of environments, including depths of up to 13,100 feet (4 km). Their bodies are so small that some of their organs — including parts of the gut and reproductive systems — are stuffed into their legs. The researchers on the ship were able to capture the most minuscule and fragile creatures thanks to a special "wet well," which is a tank that holds seawater and is used to keep marine organisms alive and in good condition after they are collected from the ocean. One organism that they were able to study was a sea butterfly, a type of sea snail that looks like it flies through the water. The sea butterfly specimen — nicknamed "Clio" by the scientists — laid eggs in one of the aquariums on the ship, allowing the researchers to study how these eggs developed for the very first time. "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," Laura Herraiz Borreguero, an oceanographer at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), told ABC News. Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 RELATED STORIES —Watch enormous deep-sea spiders crawl around sub-Antarctic seafloor —Leaf sheep: The adorable solar-powered sea slug that looks like Shaun the Sheep —32 truly bizarre deep-sea creatures Along with collecting creatures from the deep, the researchers have also been taking samples of seawater near the edge of the glacier to analyze temperature, salinity, oxygen and the level of metals present at different depths. "For us to really understand how much heat enters the ice shelf, we need to be as close as possible to understand these processes and properties of the ocean," Herraiz Borreguero said. "The system is changing. And it is really important that we observe the change so that we keep on challenging those climate models we rely on for our mitigation and adaptation strategies."
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.
The Guardian
07-03-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
‘A dream experiment': our Australian icebreaker is on a crucial mission to Antarctica
As I write, Australia's national icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, is steaming south-west from Hobart, heading to Antarctica on its first dedicated marine science voyage. Onboard are more than 60 scientists and technicians, many on their first research cruise, gingerly gaining their sea legs as the ship navigates multimetre swells and swirling Southern Ocean lows. After a week or so of travel, they'll push through the sea ice and arrive at their destination for the next 50 days: the remote Denman Glacier ice shelf system in East Antarctica, about 5,000 kilometres south of Australia. As the planet warms, this is a newly emerging region of concern for Antarctica's contribution to sea-level rise, making this mission crucial for Australia's future and the welfare of the global community. The 110-kilometre-long Denman Glacier is a vast river of ice draining the East Antarctic ice sheet. It sits on the seafloor in a canyon about 3.5 kilometres below the surface. As the most northerly ice-shelf system outside the Antarctic peninsula, the Denman Glacier is already one of the fastest retreating glaciers in Australian Antarctic Territory. If the Denman were to melt entirely, it could contribute about 1.5 metres to global sea level rise, let alone what could be unleashed from the inland ice sheet it holds back. This voyage has been a long time coming. It's the culmination of about a decade of planning for a dream experiment to investigate the interactions between ice shelf and ocean, from both the marine and terrestrial sides. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email But its genesis began even earlier. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports in 2007 marked a turning point with the recognition that ice sheets are the problem for global sea-level rise, and that ice shelves are their 'soft underbelly'. We realised Antarctica was on the move. In 2008, scientists showed that changes in glacier flow have a 'significant if not dominant impact' on the loss of mass from the Antarctic ice sheet. In 2011, scientists tagged a seal that ended up swimming through a deep trough in the ocean bed near the Denman Glacier, measuring unusually warm water there. In 2019, a new elevation map of the continental bedrock beneath the Antarctic ice sheet revealed the deepest valley on Earth beneath the Denman Glacier. For months from the end of 2020, Australian oceanographers tracked a robotic float that travelled underneath the Denman Glacier ice shelf. Before it disappeared under winter sea ice, the float sent back measurements showing warm water flooding through the deep valley into the ice shelf cavity, enough to rapidly melt the glacier from below. So this voyage aims to discover not only how vulnerable the Denman Glacier is to the warming ocean, but also the likelihood of it making a larger and faster contribution to sea-level rise during the next few decades. The Denman Marine Voyage under the Australian Antarctic Program brings together diverse groups of researchers to answer critical questions about the ocean, ice and climate. The onboard science teams – mostly from universities, with a significant number of early-career scientists and PhD students – will cover a broad range of biological, oceanographic, geological and atmospheric research. As an oceanographer, perhaps what I'm most excited about is the prospect to be measuring the properties of seawater – from both underneath the glacier and over the continental shelf – all at the same time, in a region where few observations have been collected before. In January, as part of the Denman Terrestrial Campaign from the land side, a string of moored sensors was lowered through a hole in the floating ice shelf and left hanging in a deep underwater canyon near the grounding line of a glacier. Every day the mooring automatically sends researchers the temperature, salinity and current speed of the water. These data help us track the pathways for deep, warm, salty water to access ice shelves, where it can drive rapid melting. And now, with the RSV Nuyina moving into position to take simultaneous measurements right in front of the glacier, we should have the vital link that connects the warm flows we detect just offshore in the ocean to what's under the ice shelves. The only way to get information like this is to be there. With it, we can refine our projections and better understand the hazard that Antarctica presents to our coastlines from the global sea-level rise we can expect – or avoid – this century. Prof Nathan Bindoff leads the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, based in the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania
