We are marine biologists from the British Antarctic Survey conducting a study of how marine animals cope with the temperature of the sea they live in. Antarctic marine invertebrates (sea urchins, sea squirts, clams etc) that experience a cold, stable water temperature have evolved adaptations that allow them to thrive in what might seem to humans to be a harsh environment. We are conducting studies at Ny Alesund to test the temperature tolerances of Arctic marine invertebrates to see if they are similarly sensitive to global warming and help us predict the liklely impact of warming oceans on the animsla that live there (biodiversity). By conducting latitudinal comparisons across both poles, to temperate and tropical regions we are hoping we will gain insights into the evolution of temperature tolerance across the worlds oceans. |
