University of Maine professor Dr. Bruce Sidell agreed to transmit images and information back to the Gulf of Maine Aquarium from Antarctica. He sent us three batches of images, all of which are newly available here. Do you have any specific questions you want to ask Dr. Sidell or pictures you would like to see live? He can still be reached at location@octopus.gma.org.
Dr. Bruce Sidell works on adaptations of fish that live in very cold environments. Much of his current research focuses on how icefish are able to survive the frigid waters off Antarctica. Water temperatures in Antarctica range from -1.9° Celsius to 0.1° Celsius quite cold when you consider that fresh water is frozen at 0° Celsius! Yet icefish are able to survive off the Antartic coast and no where else on earth.
Humans and other animals rely on blood to transport oxygen throughout the body. Blood is actually made up of several components, including red blood cells that contain hemoglobin and myoglobin. Hemoglobin and myoglobin pick up oxygen from the lungs and transport it to the muscles and tissues. Icefish all lack hemoglobin and Dr. Sidell is researching the myoglobin that is found in some, but not all, species of icefish. In addition to examining which species of icefish have myoglobin, Dr. Sidell is also working on how myoglobin allows icefish to be more efficient in their use and transport of oxygen within the body.
Years of research have yielded evidence that the presence of myoglobin in icefish leads to improved heart performance. In other words, the myoglobin makes the fishes' hearts more efficient. In the evolutionary history of icefish, several different events have occurred that left them without the ability to produce myoglobin. How the icefish without hemoglobin AND myoglobin able to survive the harsh Antarctic environment remains unknown.
Before he left for Antarctica, the Gulf of Maine Aquarium outfitted Dr. Sidell with a digital camera and a means to transfer the images back to our offices. After choosing his favorite images, he was able to email us back the images. Take a look!
In addition to some of the activities referenced with the images, take a look at other background activities that we have developed on Antarctica.
Previous links to this expedition:
Where in the World? Antarctica
The Technology
Related Activities
Photo Archives
Similar Expeditions
Alvin | Antarctica | Antarctica 2002 | Belize | Globec | What's Next? | About On Location | Links
