CAML (Census of Antarctic Marine Life)
Exploring Antarctica's marine biodiversity
RV Polarstern is the flagship of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. From November 2006 until January 2007 it will be travellling on its 23rd Antarctic expedition. The Larsen ice shelf on the east coast of the Antarctic Penninsula is the heading course of the 8th leg of the expedition. The heating of the atmosphere there resulted in strong environmental changes. Glaciers are increasing and complete ice shelves are collapsing. In consequence areas are accessible which were covered before by several hundred meters thick ice shelf. An international team of scientists will investigate this untouched habitat. The adaptation of the fauna to the new environmental conditions and food availability are among the various scientific research items conducted during this expedition.
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