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We’ve been off-piste for a while now so we thought we’d jump straight back into the deep sea with a series of episodes on deep-sea habitats. We’re starting off strong with a huge episode on seamounts! We speak to a friend of the show, Ashley Rowden who’s an expert in all-things benthic and we find out why seamounts are just so cool. We also get a little distracted and reminisce about the ultimate offshore championship: sausagefest.
Carl L. Hubbs, the Father of seamount ecology (pictured left with his glorious head of hair) alongside Errol Flynn (right), classic Hollywood actor and funder of deep-ocean research.
Image courtesy of Carl L. Hubbs Papers, Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
We get to hear from the scientists on board the RRS Discovery who are currently on an expedition to discover the life that exists on the seamounts surrounding St Helena and the Ascension Islands. A couple of our friends on board also recall their ‘crossing the line’ experience, and how they’re finding working on board a research vessel.
These are some of the incredible images coming from the the scientists onboard the RRS Discovery #DY159 expedition. Follow their personal accounts or the @UKgovbluebelt account for updates!
Images courtesy of James Bell (@JamesBellOcean on twitter) and Tobias Capel (@CapelTobias on twitter)
We have huge news! You’ll be very excited to hear that we have released a new design for our merch, featuring our favourite parasite - the tongue-eating isopod, Cymothoa exigua! A perfect gift this holiday season for the whole family.
Check out our podcast merch! Please do send in any pics of you wearing the merch.
Feel free to get in touch with us with questions or your own comments on:
podcast@armatusoceanic.com
We’d love to actually play your voice so feel free to record a short audio note!
We are also on
Twitter: @DeepSeaPod, @ArmatusO
Facebook:DeepSeaPodcast, ArmatusOceanic
Instagram: @deepsea_podcast, @armatusoceanic
Keep up with the team on social media
Twitter: Alan - @Hadalbloke, Thom - @ThomLinley, Georgia - @geeinthesea
Instagram: Georgia - @geeinthesea
Read the show notes and find out more about us at:
Links
Bottled deep-sea water helps with physical fatigue
Deep-sea mining is mentioned at COP27
A recent expedition to the Cocos islands in the Indian Ocean has revealed an array of deep-sea species, and previously undiscovered geological features.
3000 tonnes of polymetallic nodules are taken from the deep by deep-sea mining company
Ashley’s research and recommended reading
Ashley’s paper on seamount ecology
Clarke & Dunn (2012) paper on the sustainable management of seamount fisheries
Clark et al (2013) article on future priorities for seamount research.
Dunn & Forman (2011) orange roughy distribution
Hubbs’ 1959 iconic article on seamounts.
Global seamounts project - an initiative that’s exploring seamounts
No doubt - Oi to the world
Credits
Theme – Hadal Zone Express by Märvel
Logo image
Image courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History/Melanie Stiassny
Glossary
Albatross - A very large white oceanic bird
Baikal - The world's deepest lake (1642 m deep), based in Siberia
Guyots - Flat-topped underwater mountains
Knoll - Less than 1000m underwater mountain
Manganese nodules - Potato-sized clumps of metals (mostly manganese and iron) found on the sea floor. These metals are used in the production of batteries
Orange roughy - (Hoplostethus atlanticus) A deep-sea fish which was famously historically overfished
Productivity - The rate of growth of a habitat, usually referring to biomass
Satellite altimeters - Equipment which measures altitude or surface topography via satellite
Seamount - An underwater mountain which ascends more than 1000m
Sedimentation - The process of sediment sinking and then building up at the bottom of the water column
Seismic - Activity related to volcanoes or earthquakes