Biology & Medicine

Dr. Polly Penhale Program Manager

B-036-L/P	NSF/OPP Award 01-25890
Station: Palmer Station, R/V Laurence M. Gould
RPSC POC: Rob Edwards/Stephanie Suhr-Sliester
Research Site(s): Dallmann Bay
Dates in Antarctica: Mid April to early June

Cold body temperature as an evolutionary shaping force in the physiology of antarctic fishes.

Dr. Bruce D. Sidell The University of Maine School of Marine Sciences BSidell@maine.edu http://www.marine.maine.edu/faculty/faculty_indiv.php?faculty_id=39

Photo not available.

Deploying Team Members:

Kimberley Anne Borley . Bruce D. Sidell . Jody Wujcik . Jody M. Wujcik

Research Objectives: This project seeks to understand the characteristics of physiology and protein structure of antarctic fishes that are compatible with life at body temperatures of approximately 0 degrees C. Project team members will capture specimens of antarctic channichthyid icefish and red-blooded nototheniid species using otter trawls and buoyed and anchored fish traps from the R/V Laurence M. Gould. They also plan to use sets of buoyed and anchored baited fish pots (traps) and possibly buoyed and anchored longlines. The advantage of both traps and/or longlines is that fishing operations need not be restricted to the limited number of identified sites where bottom trawls can be deployed successfully. Using Zodiacs from Palmer Station, the group will also capture fishes by hook-and-line or fish traps in the local area. In the lab, researchers will conduct experiments with live antarctic fishes and with material prepared from their tissues.