|
 |
Craig Cary
Chief Scientist |
|
|
How long does it take for a hydrothermal vents to be created? Thank you for your time. Student
Name: Keesha
State: WA Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Great question Keesha - Once the eruption takes place and the system is established it does not take much time for the animals to arrive. We were able to witness a site just after an eruption and follow the site continuously through the process. In less than 18 months, tubeworms had arrived and were well established - the rest takes place quickly as areas cool down and new areas emerge. The systems are very dynamic often dying quickly in areas as the underground plumbing becomes clogged. |
|
|
|
|
With everything that you collected, learned, and discovered, what would be the top level consumer on the ocean floor? And how do you think this animal would interact with the animals found near the ocean surface? Student
Name: Robert
State: NJ Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey Robert -- hard question because I think it really matters where you are. In the vents I would say the top consumers are the crabs who really eat just about anything. They are endemic to vents and clearly have the upper hand -- that said any of the fish are at the same level but eat very different things -- mostly alive. Outside vents -- hagfish and sharks are probably at the high end. There are also carnivorous amphipods that are known to be pretty aggressive. |
|
|
|
|
Can the creatures of the deep sea adapt to habitats of lesser pressure?
Although some have lights, are all of the creatures on the ocean floor capable of seeing in the dark? Student
Name: Marina
State: NJ Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Marina -- it is a lot more than just pressure -- although this can be the first problem they would have. In the upper water deep sea animals would have to contend with aggressive competition for food, and very hungry predators that they are just not use to and that are much better adapted for that environment. As for pressure -- most of the time this can really affect these guys and often eventually kill them. We have, however, successfully pressure adapted a crab. Most fish in the deep-sea (bottom) do not really use eye sight to catch prey and find mates -- some still do. The rules do not apply to all. |
|
|
|
|
Does the temperature of the hydrothermal vents affect the reproduction rate of the fish near it? Student
Name: Joanna & Amanda
State: NJ Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey guys great question -- something we really do not know for the fish. Seems the invertebrates reproduce just about as fast if not a bit faster than many shallow water guys -- but the fish... well, we can only guess. The rule for the deep sea is that most processes happen much slower -- but with vents the answer is still out. |
|
|
|
|
About how much does it cost to run one of your expeditions per day?
Student
Name: Fancisco
State: NJ Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Francisco! We are very lucky to have the National Science Foundation -- a federal agency that funds our work -- who sees it essential to maintain a human presence in the deep sea. They pay the bills -- lucky for me!! I have heard a lot of numbers thrown around so not sure which one is real -- but for certain it costs a lot and that is why we make use of every sample and drip of water collected. |
|
|
|
|
What is the most exciting thing that has happened on this expedition? Student
Name: Tom
State: NJ Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Tom -- very hard question -- I think right now I am very excited to report back to shore about our last dive and the snow blowers we discovered. This is because when we see these blowers it often means something is about to happen or just has in the way of an eruption. My guess at 13N is that it has just happened and that we have been lucky to catch it right at the beginning -- may come back here and find a whole new system. |
|
|
|
|
I'm interested in pursuing a career in marine science, what advice could you give me? Student
Name: Angelique
State: NJ Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Angelique -- great to hear you are interested in this field -- we are going to need a lot of help in the future to keep the discovery process going. Best I can say is to work hard in school, stay positive and enthusiastic, look for opportunities to get as much experience as you can and most of all keep that dream alive and right in front of you all the time -- it can and will come true if you want it bad enough - |
|
|
|
|
What do you do with all the tubes from the disected Riftia and those collected with the Alvinella? Are they studied or discarded and is there any chance a school, perhaps one stuck in the middle of the desert could pay to have a small piece shipped to them??? :) Student
Name: Mrs. Bartel
State: TX Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Mrs. Bartel - thanks for the question - most often they get thrown overboard unless someone on the ship wants them. Reason is they get pretty stinky if you do not take care of them quickly and completely - this can take a lot of time. |
|
|
|
|
Can an ink pen survive the 1.5 mile trip down in the ocean? Student
Name: Timothy
State: NC Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
If by survive you mean write again - probably, though I have to say I have not done it myself. Any space not solid or occupied by a liquid will soon fill with water because of the pressure. Depends on if the ink still is usable. |
|
|
|
|
If you were to place a glass bottle filled with water at the bottom of the sea floor would the bottle explode. Please let me know something. Thanks for your time. Student
Name: Krystal
State: LA Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Krystal - The fact is that liquids are not very compressible - so if you took a bottle down without any air not much would happen. If there is some air the pressure would compress the air to nothing crushing the bottle. This is called an implosion. |
|
|
|
|
Do you enjoy your job as much as I am enjoying the fun videos and facts? Student
Name: Lauren
State: NC Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Lauren -- I hope so !!! I really love what I do and really can't imagine doing anything else. At times it is really stressful but I look back on all of the adventures I have had in my life both on and off the water doing my science and I just feel very fortunate. When I get back on land I have 3 weeks at home than I am off to Antarctica -- how can you beat that !?! |
|
|
|
|
Have you ever seen a deep crack in the earth's crust at the mid-ocean ridge? Student
Name: Chelsea
State: CT Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Chelsea -- we see cracks all the time but these are only surface features. That said -- yesterday I saw something I had never seen -- massive holes belching out white flock that looks like snow -- in fact it is really bacteria being pushed out from deep down by hot water. |
|
|
|
|
What's your favorite part of the job? Student
Name: James
State: CT Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi James -- hard question but I would have to say working with students and being able to bring what we do out here back home to you. The science is very rewarding but especially so when you see a student discover something new. |
|
|
|
|
Do you speak spanish? Student
Name: Tom
State: ** Country: Cuba
|
|
| |
|
Hi Tom - as a matter of fact I have taken up the language very recently because I love Mexico and the other Spanish speaking countries I visit. Wish I had done it years ago. |
|
|
|
|
What do you think is the most interesting about of the pompeii worm? Student
Name: Stephanie
State: NJ Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Stephanie - I guess what really caught my eye was the fleece of bacteria on the back of the worm. What makes it so unusual is that it is made up of many different bacteria that are very closely related - only symbiosis like it. The other thing that really interested me was how the worm was able to survive and thrive is such an extreme temperature gradient - its head sits at 20C and its tail end at 65C - no other animal can do this. |
|
|
|
|
Why is the vent crab always found around the vent? Student
Name: Jake
State: OK Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey Jake -- thanks for the question. Like many animals they stay where they can best get what they need to grow, and reproduce. Vents are great -- continuous source of food, few predators, and warm. We do see very crabs walking around outside of vents often 50-100m away -- we did a study several years ago to look at these guys and found out that they are mostly females either carrying or about to carry eggs. We think they may move out and away from the hot water so that their eggs do not get burnt. Good idea !! |
|
|
|
|
Hi Dr. Cary,
Do tubeworms come from eggs, or what? Student
Name: Bailee, Ashton & Dawn
State: OK Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey guys -- yep -- they release eggs probably when in their tubes. The eggs we believe are a bit heavy in water and sink -- thus remaining trapped and protected in the tubes. |
|
|
|
|
Do you ever get seasick? Student
Name: Andy
State: NY Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Well Andy -- I have to say yep -- not often but when the ship's movement changes in a certain way I have to take medicine to avoid feeling bad. |
|
|
|
|
Out of all of your amazing expeditions which one is your most favorite? Student
Name: Matt
State: ME Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey Matt - tough question !! I have to say that each is unique and most are only filled with good memories. I have to say that I feel great about Extreme 2004 - this could easily be on the top - mostly because of the great people we have aboard. |
|
|
|
|
How do you like being the chief scientist of the Extreme 2004 expedition? Do you get along with all your shipmates? Student
Name: Kristen
State: ME Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Great question Kristen - this is my 5th time being Chief and so I guess I like doing the job. It does have it up's and down's because of the responsibility and long hours but all in all I really like it. I started planning the trip over a year ago and had the opportunity on this leg to be able to bring together a group of investigators on to the ship that may have never worked together on land. Scientists can be pretty hard-headed people at times mostly because of the passion they feel about their work - but this cruise has been amazing - I could not have asked for a better groups of shipmates - truly some great people. |
|
|
|
|
What do you do with your trash? Student
Name: Erika
State: WV Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Great question Erika - well while at sea we sort the trash into plastic and paper. We throw most of the paper waste overboard and incinerate the plastic. The paper waste quickly breaks up and becomes bacteria food. See Mike's Journal Entry from December 17th. |
|
|
|
|
What is the worst problem you’ve ever encountered when preparing for a dive, or during a dive? Student
Name: Mrs. Pierson's 3rd Hour Class
State: WI Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey guys - never really had a major problem in the sub in over 30 dives. Worst was a carbon dioxide head ache that lasted well into the next day. Sometime we get working and start sucking the oxygen - CO2 can go up and I am particularly susceptible. Other than that - having a piece of equipment fail during the dive is always heartbreaking - this trip we went 12 for 12 without any failures - amazing when you think of where we go. |
|
|
|
|
I was brought up in Washington state, and got dragged out here. I love the ocean and I want to know how you got to be where you are now and I would also like to know what classes I should be taking now to prepare for a career in marine biology. What do you have to be good at? Is there any particular part of your work that you don't like? Thank you for your time. Student
Name: Marina
State: NE Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Marina great question and one that I think many of the kids in this program would like to hear the answer to. There are no really defined routes to take but many ways to get to the dream. Most importantly is to study hard, stay interested even out of school, and keep the dream right in front of you. Science is obviously important so these should be some of the classes you take in high school. I get really worried that with the National Standards demanding so much of your teachers' time that the real essence of science will be lost discovery. Many think you need to know all these facts before you can do science but that is crazy the more you open your mind to creative questions and try to figure out how to solve them the more you are doing science. So in a nutshell work hard, stay focused, try to get involved in programs during the summer where you can get your feet wet or hands dirty in nature and most important dream. |
|
|
|
|
What do you like about being a scientist? Student
Name: Lydia
State: NE Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey Linda - great and hard question. I guess it is so much a part of my life now I have to really think about it. There are several things - first, working with students and watching them make their first big discovery. Second, the opportunity to go to some amazing places to investigate questions that interest me and hopefully discover the answer. I guess I just never get tired of doing it and reading about what others have done. Lastly, being able to communicate with kids like yourself and doing the Extreme 2000 series really makes it all worth while. |
|
|
|
|
What is the longest time period you have ever been on the R/V Atlantis? Student
Name: Chris
State: NC Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey Chris -- longest leg I have been on was 32 days. |
|
|
|
|
Have you or anyone yet seen a living gaint squid yet? I know people have capture them in fish nets but they were dead. Would they survive around the hydrothermal vents?
Have any animals survived inside the vents? If any, how do they survive? Student
Name: Claire & Heather
State: ID Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey you guys - well there have been many who have tried to film the giant squid but as far as I know nobody has succeeded. I have never seen one from the sub and on each dive I really hope one will swim by. I have seen one alive though - it was off Sumatra, Indonesia when I was sailing as a Marine Naturalist on a cruise ship (long story) - we were in an area known to have Sperm Whales - we saw 6 or 7 near a small atoll (can't remember the name) and just sat there and watched them for a few hours. We actually saw a sperm whale breach -- it was amazing. Shortly after we began to steam away, we passed a giant squid off the port side -- when I looked over the rail it moved off slowly under it's own power clearly swimming but slowly. It was obviously injured but still alive. |
|
|
|
|
How does the Alvin communicate with the Atlantis? Student
Name: Lorena
State: CA Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Lorena - we communicate using a UQC - hydrophone. The web site has a lot of information on it. You speak into a microphone and an amplifier takes the voice signal, changes it into a frequency that moves through water most efficiently. In the sub there is a receiver that takes the noise and turns it back into an understandable voice. This all happens in a matter of seconds. If during a dive, you are on the ship and take a glass and put it against the hull of the ship you can hear the sub talking to the ship. |
|
|
|
|
How much is budgeted for building the new submarine to replace the Alvin? Student
Name: Andrew
State: MA Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Wow great question Andrew -- I have heard numbers ranging from 50-60 million -- but I am sure at this early stage this still has to be worked out. It will take almost 4 years to design and construct the most advanced deep submergence vehicle ever built. |
|
|
|
|
Why are tubeworms so important? Student
Name: Gretta
State: MA Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Gretta - great question and one that is hard to answer. These animals that live at vents are interesting for many biological reasons - they live in high temperatures for the deep sea, they are continuously bathed in toxic metals and poisons and yet seem to thrive. I guess each is unique and part of the big puzzle we are all trying to solve - how and why they have evolved to do this. |
|
|
|
|
What is one things that you love about being out on the open sea? What is one of the worst thing about being on the water for three weeks?
Please wish Sean McPeak Happy Birthday for me!! Student
Name: Derek
State: IN Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Thanks for the question Derek -- what do I love? Well probably being totally immersed in science in the field. Field work is often the hardest and most unpredictable part of what we do yet it is really the beginning of all we do back home. It all starts here and that is very exciting. Worst part? - being away from my family - I am very lucky that I have a family that understands that I love this part of my life and encourages me to continue. By the way, Sean says 'THANKS!!' for the Happy Birthday wishes! |
|
|
|
|
What is the deepest dive you have ever made? Student
Name: Nicole
State: IN Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Nichole - I think it was 2600m - right here at 13 N. |
|
|
|
|
How far down are you going in the ocean where you are right now? Also, please tell Sean McPeak that we all said Happy Birthday from WEC!!! Student
Name: Doni
State: IL Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey Doni - I will pass it on to him. Our last dive was to 2650m - a bit deeper than our other site. |
|
|
|
|
Why can't you wear shoes in the Alvin? Student
Name: Ashley
State: SC Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Ashley - They used to in the past but decided too much dirt was being tracked into the sub and so this was a good way to stop it. |
|
|
|
|
Is there variety between deep-sea creatures off of the different continents in the world? Student
Name: John
State: SC Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hey John - amazing question and one that we can't really answer - for the most part the deep sea can be considered probably the most extensive and consistent (except vents) environment on earth - even more so than the atmosphere. Animals that live there can easily move all over with out much to stop them - that said these studies are only just now being done - so we really can't say for sure. |
|
|
|
|
What is the most important benefit that your research will have on us in the United States (your opinion)? Student
Name: Ellen
State: ME Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Probably the most promising at this time lies with the Pompeii worm itself. In order to understand many diseases it is critical to look at proteins involved in the disease. Often human or even mammalian proteins are hard to purify to a point where they can be studied. If your protein of interest is tolerant of high temperature you have a better chance of purifying it but most often the proteins denature when heated. Some scientists have resorted to using proteins from heat tolerant bacteria because it is the only way to get a pure protein. These proteins however are a long way from looking like human ones but it is the best alternative. The worm may offer a better alternative being more closely related to humans than bacteria. So the hope is that the worm will provide a treasure box of proteins for investigators around the world to research human diseases such as cancer. |
|
|
|
|
How long did it take to plan this mission? Student
Name: Morgan
State: ME Country: USA
|
|
| |
|
Hi Morgan -- I began to plan this particular expedition over a year ago -- in fact when we walked off the ship last year we were planning this one. The project actually began 4 years ago when the proposal was first accepted for funding by the National Science Foundation |
|
|
|
