Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/01/2008 - 13:42
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Kuril Islands Biocomplexity 08

what was your favorite part and/or place of the expedition? from austin moniz (WDA 6th grade)

Mon, 09/08/2008 - 10:19

KBP Team

I really like the Kompaneskii site on Urup Island. 
 
But I think my favorite aspect of being in the Kurils is seeing all the birds.  Especially in the areas right next to some of the more dramatic volcanoes where the ocean currents from the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk collide.  These areas have extremely high biological productivity because there are high levels of nutrients in the upwelling waters.
 
The nutrients result in lots of plankton.  The plankton results in lots of things that eat plankton.  And that results in lots of birds (tens of thousands of them), also there for an easy meal. 
 
---Dr. E