Polar Research 2007 / 2008

In February 2008, researchers from the IMARES facility on Texel returned from an expedition to Antarctica on the German research vessel the "Polarstern". The aim of the expedition was to study the ecosystem of the Lazarev Sea, from the water surface to the seafloor (often more than 4 km deep). The expedition was part of the International Polar Year.

A central focus of the research concerned the mode of existence of Arctic krill (shrimp-like animals that play an important role in the food chain). On behalf of the Ministry of LNV (Agriculture, Read more on wikipedia (in dutch)Nature and Food Quality), IMARES is focusing primarily on the role of marine birds and marine mammals and on the availability of krill and fish as food for these animals in the uppermost water layer. For this purpose, a special net was developed that can be used to fish under the sea ice (see photo with caption: a scrape net).

The IMARES research team consisted of Jan Andries van Franeker, André Meijboom and Hauke Flores, assisted by LNV observer Bram Feij and temporary staff member Michiel van Dorssen.

Het onderzoeksteam van Wageningen IMARES

Proefvaart met een schraapnetThe project has important ecological value, and the expedition could be tracked on several websites. On these sites, many photographs and videos were available which provided an impression of the research and the expedition.  

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