For background on the EPR Chronicles, see this post. The expedition was also recorded online at the Field Museum during this time (before science blogs!) and includes dispatches, videos and photos!
Wednesday 11/12/03 3:00 am
The stauromedusae are amazing me more and more each time I look at them in the video! I think there are some genetic variations at the 8° 37′ N site. I should try to find some morphometric differences between the ‘white’ and ‘pinkish’ stauros. Janet recommended a person to me: Sonke Jonsen at Duke. Tuesday, Karen and Julia dove in Alvin, mostly water samples & temp. reading, some rocks & meiofauna. Breea recovered her 3 controls for the false substrate experiment & surprisingly had some interesting fauna on it. It is surprising because it is off-axis from the vents & she expected nothing to be inside the tygon tubeworm assemblage. This shows that there is a small background amount of typical vent fauna in non-vent habitat. Though her experiments showed a significant amount of typical tubeworm fauna in her experimental plots. The black smokers are absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait to show Linda all the crazy videos I’ve collected. I talked a little bit to Kim, who is an undergrad from U. New Hampshire. She is actually 27 and an oceanography major.
I got my ass whooped in ping pong by Jerry, one of the crew members. This puts me in the running for the “loser” bowl in the tournament. If the captain beats Peter than I play Peter to advance towards the 3rd place game. Sea life is really interesting. It will be weird to get back on land and into the regular routine. I really miss Linda, I hope she is truly well.
