Next stop: Broome

Newsletter 13

Dato 3.11.2006

VÆDDEREN is now on the last stage of the long Indian Ocean crossing. She is expected to arrive late Sunday evening (Danish time) at Broome, in North West Australia.

The water samples coming up show increasing temperatures, exciting tropical species and dangerous hydrozoans! Researchers have to use gloves for the haul, to avoid contact with the hydrozoan’s tentacles: a burn from one of these can induce nausea and anxiety attacks in humans. Others are on the lookout for sea snakes and want to investigate the sea snake's poison, which costs thousands of lives each year. More on Arne Redsted Rasmussens project “Collecting poisonous sea snakes” can be found here (Danish)

Photograph: Ole Schou Hansen

The zooplankton net is hauled up

The first pictures of living dinoflagellata

A research group under the leadership of Niels Daugbjerg from Copenhagen University is looking into tropical dinoflagellata. They have managed to photograph living dinoflagellata in the middle of the Indian Ocean, a world first. Earlier studies were based on dead material.  By looking at pictures of the living forms, it will be possible to collect new data on their colour and shape. The photographs, complemented by DNA analyses, will be part of genetic mapping of the dinoflagellata community in the Indian Ocean.

A virus with a future

During the course of the week Mathias Middelboe, an associate professor from Copenhagen University, discovered a new virus able to fight the bacteria which is responsible for killing fish in Danish sea farms. The bacteria are a massive problem for the fishing industry in Denmark, causing several million krone damage each year. The researchers hope to find several marine viruses, with the long-term aim of creating a virus complex. This could be added to fish feed, thus combating the bacteria. The Danish paper Jyllands-Posten has a Galathea 3-web site - click here

An alluring light

A trawl on Thursday evening at a depth of 1000 metres targeted somewhat larger animals. The catch contained, among other creatures, a transparent member of the crab species- a rather flat cousin measuring 7cm in length and barely 1mm in thickness.

Foto: Anne Sofie Berendt

Crustacean caught at 1000 metres depth in the Indian Ocean

The same haul brought up a fish equipped with a special organ, hanging like a long thread from the fish’s lower jaw.   This organ is designed to entice prey towards the fish – it glows.

Foto: Anne Sofie Berendt

2. 2 November 2006.  Fish with lure (second from top) caught at 1000 metres depth in the Indian Ocean

Change of port of call

The Danish Expedition Foundation advisory board has this week decided to change the plan to stop at the capital of the Solomon Islands, Honiara.  VÆDDEREN will now call at Gizo in the same group of islands. The decision came after news of continued unrest in the capital following the presidential election in the spring. Pictures of the Solomon Islands can be seen at google.com

Photograph: Ole Schou Hansen

Evening over the Indian Ocean Still no sign of Broome – but it won’t be long…