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2003-2004 USAP
Field Season
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Biology & Medicine
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Dr. Polly Penhale
Program Manager
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B-015-M
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NSF/OPP
02-16043
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Station:
McMurdo Station
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RPSC POC:
Curt LaBombard
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Research Site(s):
McMurdo Station, New Harbor, McMurdo Sound
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Dates in Antarctica:
Early November to mid December
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Remotely operable micro-environmental observatory for antarctic marine biology research
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Photo not available.
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Deploying Team Members:
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Jeffrey R. Blair
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Samuel S. Bowser
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Douglas Coons
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Philip E. Forte
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Karen Henrichs Sterling
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Mary Turnipseed
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Research Objectives:
Research diving over the past two decades has yielded important insights into the ecological importance of giant (larger than 1 mm) foraminifera in McMurdo Sound. Unfortunately, the in situ behavior of these single-celled organisms and their interactions within the food web can be observed only in “snapshots” during summer dives, when algal production is at a maximum under 24-hour light. Much would be learned by observing foraminifera over extended periods, to study mobility, response to food availability, and other directed behaviors. It would be valuable to be able to extend observations to the winter months in order to study these organisms in the dark, with no algal production, and to experimentally manipulate in situ conditions and observe the behavioral response.
Research diving requires costly support and cannot provide extended observation of individual organisms. Moreover, the logistical requirements, costs, complexities, and risks of winter diving at remote locations in Antarctica are prohibitive. However, human diving is not required to make long-term in situ observations. Technology and communications have advanced to the point where it is feasible and practical to install video macro- and microview cameras in a submersible enclosure, transmitting both live and sequential time-lapse images over the Internet to a remote user throughout the year. Such an instrumentation platform could then be used for experimental manipulation of the environment.
We intend to develop a submersible, remotely operable underwater observatory for the study of foraminifera and associated benthic fauna. This observatory would be connected to a shoreline unit by fiberoptic cable and linked by radio to the Internet for year-round access. The design and operation of this observatory will function as a technology template to meet other year-round antarctic research requirements by means of telescience rather than personnel deployment.
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