Bathycyroe fosteri

MAR-ECO is an international research project in which scientists from 16 nations take part. Norway,

represented by the Institute of Marine Research and the University of

Bergen, co-ordinates the project which will enhance our understanding

of occurrence, distribution and ecology of animals and animal

communities along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Iceland and the

Azores.

A Comb Jelly

Exploring life in the mid-Atlantic at various depths down to 4 km (2.5 miles), 60 scientists from 13 countries on a two-month expedition summer 2004 have surfaced a wealth of new information and insights, stunning images and marine life specimens, several thought to be species never before known to science. August 5, the highlights and preliminary results from the MAR-ECO expedition 2004 was made public.

Time period: 5 June - 4 August. (Leg 1:  5 June - 3 July, Leg 2: 4 July - 4 August)

Study area: Section of the mid-Atlantic Ridge between Iceland and the Azores. Depth

range: 0-4000mVessels: RV G.O.Sars (entire period), MS

Loran (5-20 July).Scientific crew:  60 scientists, students, and

technicians, from 13 countries (Iceland, Portugal, Russia, USA, Germany, United

Kingdom, Austria, Finland, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, the Faroe Islands, Norway)

Principal scientists:  Leg 1: Olav Rune Godoe (IMR, Norway), Leg 2: Odd Aksel

Bergstad, (IMR Norway), MS Loran: Jan Erik Dyb, (Moere Research, Norway).

Port Calls:  3-5 July Horta, the Azores; 3 August Aberdeen, Scotland.

Approx. distance sailed: RV G.O. Sars: 6000 n.m. (11,112 km).

G.O Sars

MS Loran

Map of Area explored including study sites

Zooplankton

Anoplogaster cornuta or the Fangtooth

Orange Roughy

•The fangtooth has a short deep body with a large head and mouth. The body is covered with small prickly scales.

•There are mucous cavities on the head separated by serrated ridges. As the common name suggests,this fish has very long pointed teeth. The lower jaw fangs slide into pockets in the roof of the mouth when the jaws close.

•This species is dark brown to black.

•Young eat crustaceans and adults eat fish.

•The Fangtooth grows to 17cm in length

Orange Roughy have a bright reddish orange head and body and their mouth and gill cavities are black.  Their head is covered with bony ridges and deep mucus cavities.   The dorsal fin has 6 spines (the last one being the longest) and 15-18 rays.

Inhabits deep, cold waters over steep continental slopes, ocean ridges and sea-mounts in the Eastern Atlantic: Iceland to Morocco

feeds on crustaceans and fish

                                                                                                            

Octopods have beaks which they use to feed!

It can be found in the Continental Slope

andThe mid Atlantic

ridge!

It is very RED in Colour to warn

off predators and as camouflage

The octopod is aMember of the

Cephalopod family!

They have 8 arms!

Most octopi only live for a year!!

They only reproduce once and die!!

Having short life cycles may help cephalopods spend a large part of their life as adults, giving the advantage of having more time to reproduce.

There are 2 groups of cephalopods in the atlantic, decapods (squid) and octopods.

Cephalopods are soft-bodied animals that include octopus, squids, cuttlefish and nautilus

They eat Shrimps

Crabs and Fish,

But are eaten by

Whales,seals and

Humans!!!

Bathypolypus arcticus

It is a deep sea octopus that is typically found at depths from 200-600 m. This species of octopus is very small. Deep sea octopod generally do not have ink sacks.

Stauroteuthis synthesis: Deep-sea cirrate octopus.

The "suckers" on the arms are actually photophores.

Bottom View

Side View

Loggerhead sea turtles are reptiles and belong to the Cheloniidae family.The loggerhead is characterised by its large head with blunt jaws. The carapace and flippers are a reddish – brown colour and the plastron is yellow. Adults grow to an average weight of 200 pounds.

Loggerhead’s jaws are adapted for crushing and grinding. Their diet primarily exists of crabs, molluscs, shrimp, jellyfish and vegetation.

They are found in coastal, tropical and sub tropical waters. They are found worldwide but are best known from the eastern Atlantic near the Azores and Madeira. Loggerheads nest on ocean beaches and occasionally on estuarine shorelines with suitable sand. Nests are typically made between the high tide line and the dune front.

Sea turtles hatch throughout the year but mostly in summer. the young turtles may take three to seven days to dig their way to the surface. Hatchlings usually wait until night to emerge from the nest. Emerging at night reduces exposure to daytime predators. When a hatchling reaches the surf, it dives into a wave and rides the undertow out to sea.

During the first year (lost year), many species of sea turtles are rarely seen. Most researchers believe that they ride prevailing surface currents, situating themselves in floating seaweed where they are camouflaged and where they can find food.

Loggerheads reach sexual maturity at a carapace size of 79 cm (31 in.) courtship activity usually occurs several weeks before the nesting season. Like other turtles, sea turtles lay eggs. They must come ashore to do so. Females nest a few weeks after mating and during the warmest months of the year. Females usually lay between one and nine clutches (groups) of eggs per season and nest every two to three years.

Migration habits differ not only among species but also among different

populations of the same species. Some sea turtle populations nest and feed in the same general areas; others migrate

great distances.

Loggerheads leave foraging areas and travel on breeding migrations that range from a few to thousands of kilometres (1

kilometre = 0.62 miles). The loggerhead turtle was listed as threatened throughout its range on July 28, 1978 and its status has not changed Loggerhead populations in Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, Turkey, Bahamas, Cuba, Greece, Japan, and Panama have been declining. This decline continues and is primarily attributed to shrimp trawling, coastal development, increased human use of nesting beaches, and pollution. Loggerheads are the most abundant species in U.S. coastal waters, and are often captured incidental to shrimp trawling. Natural predators include fishes, dogs, seabirds, raccoons and ghost crabs which eat 90% of hatchlings.Shrimping is thought to have played a significant role in the population declines observed for the loggerhead.

Loggerhead sea turtles are reptiles and belong to the Cheloniidae family.The loggerhead is characterised by its large head with blunt jaws. The carapace and flippers are a reddish – brown colour and the plastron is yellow. Adults grow to an average weight of 200 pounds.

Loggerhead’s jaws are adapted for crushing and grinding. Their diet primarily exists of crabs, molluscs, shrimp, jellyfish and vegetation.

They are found in coastal, tropical and sub tropical waters. They are found worldwide but are best known from the eastern Atlantic near the Azores and Madeira. Loggerheads nest on ocean beaches and occasionally on estuarine shorelines with suitable sand. Nests are typically made between the high tide line and the dune front.

Sea turtles hatch throughout the year but mostly in summer. the young turtles may take three to seven days to dig their way to the surface. Hatchlings usually wait until night to emerge from the nest. Emerging at night reduces exposure to daytime predators. When a hatchling reaches the surf, it dives into a wave and rides the undertow out to sea.

During the first year (lost year), many species of sea turtles are rarely seen. Most researchers believe that they ride prevailing surface currents, situating themselves in floating seaweed where they are camouflaged and where they can find food.

Loggerheads reach sexual maturity at a carapace size of 79 cm (31 in.) courtship activity usually occurs several weeks before the nesting season. Like other turtles, sea turtles lay eggs. They must come ashore to do so. Females nest a few weeks after mating and during the warmest months of the year. Females usually lay between one and nine clutches (groups) of eggs per season and nest every two to three years.

Migration habits differ not only among species but also among different

populations of the same species. Some sea turtle populations nest and feed in the same general areas; others migrate

great distances.

Loggerheads leave foraging areas and travel on breeding migrations that range from a few to thousands of kilometres (1

kilometre = 0.62 miles). The loggerhead turtle was listed as threatened throughout its range on July 28, 1978 and its status has not changed Loggerhead populations in Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, Turkey, Bahamas, Cuba, Greece, Japan, and Panama have been declining. This decline continues and is primarily attributed to shrimp trawling, coastal development, increased human use of nesting beaches, and pollution. Loggerheads are the most abundant species in U.S. coastal waters, and are often captured incidental to shrimp trawling. Natural predators include fishes, dogs, seabirds, raccoons and ghost crabs which eat 90% of hatchlings.Shrimping is thought to have played a significant role in the population declines observed for the loggerhead.

MAR-ECO is an international research project in which scientists from 16 nations take part. The ship G.O.Sars (left) went on an expedition along the

north Atlantic ridge from Iceland to the Azores as shown below.

Exploring life in the mid-Atlantic at various depths down to 4 km (2.5 miles), 60 scientists from 13 countries found lots of information on marine life including species which are believed to have never been known to science before. Here is a selection of their findings:

Zooplankton are tiny organisms which live in the sea, they eat algae and produce high density pellets which sink to the bottom faster than the algae do, so are an important link in the food chain. Without them the larger fish lower down in the ocean would not get food as fast. There were many types found on the cruise, right are some examples.

                                                      

                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                      

The group of animals known as cephalopods include squids and cuttlefish. They have large heads and tentacles with suckers or hooks. Their lifespan is approximately 2 years. During the cruise there were new types of cephalopods discovered as well as great footage of them in their natural environment.

                                                                                                                                                  

Rachael Davies, Matthew Smedley and Hazel Galbraith, Ellon Academy, Scotland