17 January 2012 A Visit with Dr. Amsler

Journal

Students at State High had a wonderful opportunity to meet Dr. Amsler, one of the scientists I will be working with in Antarctica, on January 12th and 13th. Dr. Amsler, a Professor of Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, made the trip to central Pennsylvania to talk with students in small and large groups. Dr. Amsler talked with the Polar Ambassadors about his research in the fields of marine biology and phycology and also gave a more general lecture in the auditorium to about 500 students in grades 9-12.

Dr. Amsler describing skua behavior — Dr. Amsler describing the behavior of a skua, a large seabird, common at Palmer Station

Dr. Amsler describing Adelie Penguins, a species I will see at Palmer Station

During his talks, Dr. Amsler made some important points:

There is more biodiversity in the Southern Ocean than the Arctic Ocean
The Southern Ocean is older than the Arctic Ocean so organisms have had more time for adaptive radiation

Map of the Southern Ocean — The Southern Ocean, pictured in blue, surrounds Antarctica and is older than the Arctic Ocean.

Map of the Arctic Ocean — The Arctic Ocean, which surrounds the North Pole, is younger than the Southern Ocean.

Chemical ecology involves the study of the chemicals involved in the interactions of living organisms
Many marine organisms in the Southern Ocean, which surrounds Antarctica, have special chemicals in them to help them avoid being eaten by other organisms
Some of the chemicals found in marine organisms in Antarctica are being studied as potential cures for disease in humans
Palmerolide A, a chemical compound found in an animal called a tunicate or “sea squirt,” is named for Palmer Station and is being studied as a potential cure for skin cancer