Cairns.com.au - Giant crawlies help sea study

Giant crawlies help sea study

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Sea spiders as big as dinner plates in Antarctic waters will help scientists monitor the impact of rising carbon dioxide levels on marine life.

The giant sea spiders, along with giant worms and crustaceans, are among up to 1500 species that Australian, Japanese and French scientists have brought back from the icy waters off Antarctica as part of a two-year census of marine life.

With an Australian ship scouring the ocean floor and the French and Japanese searching for life in the mid and upper reaches, the scientists conducted a count of species known as the Collaborative East Antarctic Marine Census.

Leader of the Australian vessel Aurora Australis Martin Riddle said among the rich and colourful world of the Antarctic waters the scientists found giant spiders, worms and crustaceans and CEAMARC project leader Graham Hosie said it was expected several new species would be discovered.

"Not all of the creatures that we found could be identified and it is very likely that some new species will be recorded," Dr Hosie said.

<strong>Giant find: </strong> Giant crustaceans on the ocean floor at a depth of about 400m on the Antarctic continental shelf.

Giant find: Giant crustaceans on the ocean floor at a depth of about 400m on the Antarctic continental shelf.

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