Every Corner Of The Antarctic Has Life Forms
The farthest-south living animal is a pink mite. It measures around 1/100 of an inch in length. Spider-like, this tiny life forms eats fungi and algae. A scientist from Hawaii just found the pink mite very close to the South Pole. It was only 309 miles away. The entomologist also found lichens within 266 miles of the Pole. This is the closest any living thing has ever been found to the Pole.
There are only certain types of animals that take up permanent residence on the Antarctic continent, and they are insecticide.There are fifty-six species of arthropods on the continent. You’ll need magnification to see most of them. A wingless fly is the biggest of these creatures. It is about the same size as a common horsefly. When the air warms to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the animals come to life, but are inert during the harsh winter. You will find info on cruise to Antarctica by visiting that site.
In stark contrast to the barren land, Antarctic waters are filled with a variety of animal life forms. They range in size from tiny, microscopic animals to the great blue whale. Wanting to learn more about life in the ocean, scientist submerged a six by four foot capsule. There were six windows available to look into the surrounding waters. The scientists took turns in the water. They could even hear the life beneath the waters because they installed a hydrophone.
Though there weren’t a lot of fish to be seen, there was a jelly fish that sported tentacles of up to thirty feet in length. For the most part, there were an abundance of seals playfully swimming in the sea, alternating between peeking at the chamber and breathing through an ice hole.Scientists described the sounds these seals made as chirps, buzzes, beeps and whistles. This underwater cacophony was a first for at least one scientist.
The noises, created by the Weddell seals, could be used for sonar navigation and as a means of communication. The navigation theory helps scientist understand how the seals could find food and sources of air in the dark waters. The recordings of seal sounds are being carefully researched. Human ears can’t even hear all the sounds the seals make due to their rapid beat and high frequency. If you are in search of info don’t forget to view this resource Antarctic cruise reviews.
Scientists aren’t even sure how the seals make these sounds. The Weddell seals keep their mouths and nostrils tightly shut when they are in the water. Weddell seals can dive very deep; one holds the records for all mammals at nearly 1500 feet. Another seal stayed underwater for over 28 minutes before it needed to breathe. A mother seal willingly gave samples of her milk to a scientist. Seal milk has a much higher fat ratio than human milk does. This is one of the reasons that baby seals can gain weight more quickly than any other mammal. In fact, a baby seal only takes a month and a half to quintuple its own weight.
Using specially-equipped dive suits, scientists have looked at the oceans surrounding Antarctica. Red and other colored seaweeds crisscross the ocean’s floor. Five foot long worms, four foot sponges and big red and white starfish were also there.
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