Antarctica Sea Spiders

[archman]

Yes there is! I don't want to see my Big Mac being made either! Don't release the video if you don't want criticism from an unknowing public! I don't want to see a lot of fact of life, but in a PC world that kind of video sets everyone back! I would think there are better ways, just not cheaper ways!

Just for that, I need to create a "How a Big Mac is made" video.

Incidentally, the benthic sled being used in the Antarctic video IS the best (and correspondingly most expensive) way for the sampling being done down there. There are certainly cheaper, more destructive ways. They could always try dredging, or better yet, scoops.

I love scoops. Specimens come back in such wonderful shape.

 

[Mr.X]

The purpose of a benthic sled is not to capture video. Most sleds don't even have this capability. The purpose of the sled is to capture organisms in a semi-quantitative manner. And no, there isn't a better way.

I never much liked the quantitative side of marine biology. I understand the need, but at the same time I prefer less invasive ways of getting data. I dreaded those days when we were made to collect.

That being said, there is nothing like looking at the organism in your hand. Anyway, ARGO sled and ROV's can capture decent video if that's the aim of the game.

X

Dive and Discover : Oceanographic Tools: Argo

 

[archman]

That being said, there is nothing like looking at the organism in your hand. Anyway, ARGO sled and ROV's can capture decent video if that's the aim of the game.

Dive and Discover : Oceanographic Tools: Argo

That's the thing... video typically is not the aim of the game. Video is in point the "poor man's tool" of seafloor ecology. Benthic ecologists use video only for superficial (that is meant literally) surveys, or as piece-of-crap proxies for biological sampling gear when they can't get better equipment.

I despise video as a standalone sampling device. So do nearly all benthic ecologists. The government agencies like 'em because they're *shiny hi-tech*, and make pretty pictures to stick on brochures and CNN press releases. It's quasi-science for most applications, at best.

Biological sampling of the deep seafloor is so incredibly rare when one quantifies it over decadal scales, arguments about destructive techniques used border upon the ludicrously delusional. It doesn't even rate as a third-order minor distraction against natural destructive events, or even commercial fishing/mineral extraction activity.

The day NOAA pulled it's manipulator arm off a popularly used monitoring ROV and replaced it with another friggin' camera, there was bitchin' aplenty in several university laboratories. Four years later I'm STILL hearing complaints.

 

[vshearer]

Well, one thing you wouldn't have without the video was how scared silly those things were of the sled.

 

[vshearer]

Just for that, I need to create a "How a Big Mac is made" video.

Great movie and book. You won't eat another Big Mac for awhile.

Fast Food Nation

 

[archman]

Well, one thing you wouldn't have without the video was how scared silly those things were of the sled.

Yeah, it really sucks when the animals don't flop into your boat of their own accord. Almost makes me want to take up an occupation where I don't do wildlife science or need to know much about it. Then I could throw out anthropomorphic opinions without feeling silly, and chase gumdrop rainbows...

 

[The Chairman]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... gumdrop rainbows! Nummy, num!

Yeah, real science ain't for the faint of heart!

 

[drbill]

That's why I try to focus on unreal science (GIS/RS are my tools) and education. Crushing critters just ain't my thing, but it takes many different approaches to put together a entire picture of what we are dealing with.

 

[Papa_Bear]

Momuntary Hi-Jack! DrBill, I hope your feeling better, and you didn't give it to me! Feeling fine!

 

[drbill]

Man, you're fortunate Papa Bear. Four days spent mostly in bed is not my idea of fun. Let us now return you to your usual thread topic...