Gentoo Penguins live in the Subantarctic, nesting on islands such as Heard and Macquarie Island and the Antarctic Peninsula. They are the third-largest penguin, and, like Adelies, are known to steal nest stones from each other. #saef_arc #aurora_expeditions #marineexplorer flic.kr/p/2rRdBBV%F0...
King Penguins are the second largest penguin, growing to almost 1 m tall and weighing 18 kg. The adults have striking colouration similar to the Emperor Penguin, but their chicks are a lovely chocolate colour. #marineexplorer #saef_arc #aurora_expeditions #sydney_science flic.kr/p/2rQWGKj 🧪🦑
Albatross wingspans can reach 3 m. They are incredible to watch as they glide effortlessly without flapping, using the energy in the wind. #marineexplorer #saef_arc #aurora_expeditions #sydney_science flic.kr/p/2rQUpAs 🧪🦑
Royal Penguins on Macca. If I didn't know better I'd say the penguin in the foreground was thinking "ooh that's cold!!". #marineexplorer #saef_arc #aurora_expeditions #sydney_science flic.kr/p/2rPW3pM 🧪🦑
Campbell Albatross is one of around 20 albatross species, endemic to Campbell Island in the NZ subantarctic region. #marineexplorer #saef_arc #sydney_science #aurora_expeditions flic.kr/p/2rPo4hf 🧪🦑
Elephant Seals moult once a year in spring. They lose their outer fur layer then re-grow it. During this time they are on land, and are more susceptible to heat loss. #aurora_expeditions #saef_arc #sydney_science #marineexplorer flic.kr/p/2rP2uNd 🧪🦑
Several icebergs of various shapes, light blue and white in colour
As we left the Antarctic region today en route to the NZ Subantarctic islands we were treated to a wonderful display of #icebergs #aurora_expeditions #sydney_science #saef_arc #marineexplorer More pics: www.flickr.com/photos/johnw...
Adelie Penguins are a sea ice obligate species; they need sea ice to forage and survive in Antarctica. They feed primarily on krill, which in turn feed on sea ice algae in winter. Declines in sea ice are expected to impact on Adelie Penguin populations. #marineexplorer flic.kr/p/2rNu8av 🧪🦑
Despite their name, Crabeater Seals eat primarily krill. They have specialised teeth for filtering their prey. These two remind me of my Labrador... #saef_arc #sydney_science #aurora_expeditions #marineexplorer 🧪🦑 flic.kr/p/2rNkjek
Sea ice and icebergs have wonderful colours that arise from different processes. White ice is filled with air bubbles which reflect the light. Blue ice is more solid, and the light loses the red wavelengths as it passes through Green/brown ice is coated w algae. flic.kr/p/2rMMnSW #marineexplorer 🧪
Lots of animals huddle together, from birds to bats, rodents to seals. It can be for warmth and protection from predators... I wonder what is going on here? Elephant Seal huddle flic.kr/p/2rMBxDV #marineexplorer #aurora_expeditions #saef_arc #sydney_science 🧪🦑
Several shots of icebergs
First icebergs today! In order to qualify, bergs need to be at least 5 m high. I think these ones pass the test. You can only see 10% of the ice mass - the other 90% is below the water #sydney_science #saef_arc #aurora_expeditions #marineexplorer
Elephant seals can dive to great depths in order to find prey (over 2000 m). Their large eyes and sensitive whiskers allow them to find prey in low, or even no light. flic.kr/p/2rMbSin #saef_arc #aurora_expeditions #sydney_science #marineexplorer 🧪🦑
Royal and King Penguins, and a seal pup
Spectacular morning ashore on Macquarie Island among the seals and penguins... thanks so much to #saef_arc #aurora_expeditions #sydney_science 🧪🦑 #marineexplorer
Royal penguins are endemic to Macquarie Island, and have a cool fluoro hairstyle. This yellow crest is not pure vanity, it is used to signal fitness for breeding, for species recognition and social signalling. flic.kr/p/2rM4Bn3 @saef_arc @sydney_science #marineexplorer @aurora_expeditions 🧪🦑
A new favourite bird for me, the light-mantled sooty. Several of this spectacular bird circled our ship for hours, making the most of the lift from the wind over the superstructure #SAEF #marineexplorer #Antarctica flic.kr/p/2rLTnjT 🧪🦑
Two more albatross species today; shy and grey-headed, and a white-chinned petrel that has followed the ship for hours #marineexplorer #Antarctica #aurora_expeditions #SAEF 🧪🦑
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Pics of several fishers, a diver doing surveys and a current logger
In our final week of fieldwork at One Tree Island and we have almost completed surveys on 26 sites, with current loggers and microhabitat studies on many of them. A massive thanks to all concerned! 🧪🦑 #SAEF_ARC #SydneyUni #marineexplorer
Damaged corals with some live patches
Whilst there is more dead coral than live, there are signs of growth throughout; small patches of live coral on broken reef, live tips on dead branches. The challenge of course will be when the next heatwave comes. For close ups: www.flickr.com/photos/johnw... #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer
Inforgraphic showing how marine life hase changed from the 1960s to the 2010s
Our latest paper highlights changes in the marine community at Shiprock in Sydney over half a century. #sydney_science #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer 🧪🦑
Open access: doi.org/10.1071/MF24...
Goby with shrimp, squid, nudibranch, damsel fish and hermit crab
Wonderful diversity of critters on our surveys today at the Labyrinth, #onetreeisland #sydneyuni #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer 🧪🦑
some live corals with fish and a diver
Despite extensive damage from the recent cyclone and 2024 bleaching, there are some signs of recovery in the southern GBR #onetreeisland #universityofsydney #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer 🧪🦑
The photogrammetry stage of our field trip is now well underway, capturing reef complexity and biodiversity in great detail #one_tree_island #sydney_science #marineexplorer #saef_arc 🧪🦑
Series of images of reef fishes, diver surveying and hermit crab
Day 5 of our University of Sydney research trip to One Tree Island, and we have refined our methods and completed 8 biodiversity surveys. Tomorrow we put out flow meters to measure lagoon currents, then start our microhabitat study in earnest. #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
Several endangered White's #seahorses on the nets in #SydneyHarbour during our surveys last weekend... and more red cuttlefish (A. mestus) than we normally see #marinescience #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
As we cross from the Coral Sea back into the GBR we have favourable winds and a nice big incoming tide; smiles all around! A few more sites in the GBR over the next few days before we wrap up #reeflifesurvey #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
Day 12 of #reeflifesurvey in the GBR and Coral Sea, and we are at Marion reefs around 400 km offshore. Some terrific sea life today particularly on our big bommie site. #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪
