After an epic 161-day voyage covering over 81,000 nautical miles, marine biologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have returned with a treasure trove of over 400 plankton samples from the Antarctic Ocean. These microscopic organisms, invisible to the naked eye, hold the key to understanding the Southern Ocean’s intricate ecosystem.
The 40th Chinese Antarctic Expedition team set sail from Shanghai in November 2023 and docked at the port of Qingdao in April. The samples, collected from the Antarctic Peninsula, Prydz Bay, and the Astronaut Sea, encompass seven different water layers ranging from the surface to 200 meters deep.
“These samples contain phytoplankton and planktonic ciliates, fundamental components of the ocean’s food web,” explained Li Haibo, an assistant researcher at the CAS Institute of Oceanology. “Planktonic ciliates serve as a crucial intermediary between the micro-food web and the classic food chain. Studying them will shed light on the relationship between their geographical distribution, community structure, and the surrounding environment.”
Extracting these tiny creatures requires meticulous work, as they need to be magnified up to 400 times for proper observation. The research builds upon data accumulated since China’s 31st Antarctic expedition in 2014, allowing scientists to make significant progress in understanding the delicate balance of marine life in the Southern Ocean.
“Through data analysis over many years, we have begun to map the relationship between the distribution of planktonic ciliates and water masses in the Southern Ocean,” said Li. “For example, some species of sand-shell ciliates are consistently found between 150 and 200 meters deep. Further investigation is needed to determine the factors driving this vertical distribution.”
The findings from these studies are expected to enhance our knowledge of the Southern Ocean’s ecosystem, contributing to global efforts in marine conservation and environmental protection.
Reference(s):
Newly-returned Antarctic samples reveal secrets of microscopic ocean
cgtn.com
