Antarctic Seas Swimming With Animals
The pink mite lives farther south than any other animal and is only about one hundredth of an inch long
. Algae and fungi are what the little spider-like animal eats.
The tiny mite was found near the South Pole, only 309 miles from it, by a Hawaiian entomologist recently.
Lichens have been discovered within 266 miles of the Pole, as well. This is the closest any living organism has ever been found.
Insects and their family are the only animals that can stay on Antarctica all year long. A recent magazine article reported this.
Although your eye can't see them, around 56 species of arthropods have been found there. One insect you could easily see is about the size of a common horsefly.
It's a wingless fly. During the severe winters, the animals hibernate, but when the air reaches the melting point of water, thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit, they come back to life.
In utter contrast to the seemingly barren land, the waters around Antarctica abound with life from microscopic in size up to the largest living thing any where on our planet, blue whales.
Using a steel chamber, scientists attempted to watch the underwater world. As they took turns, the scientists watched the sea life around them through six windows.
They even utilized a hydrophone to listen into the sea life.
There weren't a lot of fish to be seen, but a jelly fish did cross their path. It had thirty-foot tentacles.
A near-by air hole drew many seals to the chamber area. There were constantly seals checking out the scientists.
Via the hydrophone, the scientists could hear the seals buzzing, chirping and whistling. This was an underwater racket one scientist hadn't heard previously.
Without these sounds, Weddell seals may be unable to get around in the dark waters, or to communicate with each other.
The navigation theory could help scientists understand how the seals can find holes to surface for air and food in the dark, cold Antarctic waters.
Scientists are analyzing recordings of the seal sounds. With too high of frequency, and too rapid of a pulse, some sounds can't be made out by human ears.
Scientists don't know how Weddell seals make all their sounds. Both their nostrils and mouths are very tightly closed when the seals are underwater.
The deepest a mammal has ever been recorded to dive is nearly 1500 feet; this was a Weddell seal. They've even tracked on seal who stayed underwater for 28 minutes before needing to breathe.
A mother seal willingly gave samples of her milk to a scientist. Seal pups add weight faster than any other known mammal; this could be due to the fact that seal milk has much more fat in it than human milk does.
Newborn seals can multiply their weight five times in just six weeks.
Using specially-equipped dive suits, scientists have looked at the oceans surrounding Antarctica. Colorful seaweeds, including red ones, filled the ocean's bottom.
Scientists also found red and white species of starfish in addition to large sponges and very long worms.
by: John Chambers
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