Scientists say they're 'racing against the clock' to collect crucial data on life in Antarctica. 'These animals are already compromised in a big way.'
But today, scientists from across the world have descended on the white continent, braving brutal conditions to study how the pristine region is now struggling to cope with pollutants and man-made climate change.
After two days crossing the Drake Passage, the ship finally entered the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. The biopsies can indicate the population of the animal’s group, the sex of the animal, if female, whether the animal is pregnant, as well as baseline data on contaminant levels the animal is carrying, Friedlander said.
After spending several hours in the biting cold, the researchers headed back to the ship's lab to process the biopsy samples they collected. A landmark report released by the U.N. revealed that humans are already altering the world at an unprecedented pace – over 1 million plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction.
So far, the numbers are encouraging: unlike most whale species, humpback populations are on the rise. "Essentially what will happen is… there’s a big long carbon fiber pole, with a cradle on the end of it, so the tag will sit in the cradle and they will quietly approach the animal and get close enough," said Julian Dale, lead engineer at Duke Marine Lab."Essentially we’re just slapping them on the backs, so it’s a gentle slap and the tag will stick on the animal."
Tagging is critical to the team’s research. And this bay is one Friedlander has returned to many times throughout the years. The tag will stay on, capturing data for the researchers. The device, equipped with a camera, also provides them with a whale’s eye view of the world. "Time is of the essence because a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said we have about 12 years to really reduce our emissions," Johnson said."We have 12 years to, to really fight the impact of climate change."
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