Fiji/Lau Expedition, May 15 - June 3, 2005
Click on any name to read an interview from the scientists.
Robert Vrijenhoek, Cindy Lee Van Dover, Lizzie Blake, Todd Bliss, Katharine Coykendall, Kristin Erickson, Shana Goffredi, Taylor Heyl, Ana Hilario, Karen Jacobsen, Shannon Johnson, Amanda Jones, Joe Jones, Carol Logan, Vicki Orphan, Joshua Osterberg, Fred Pleijel, Greg Rouse, Suzanne Schmitt, Michel Segonzac, Anders Warén, Robbie Young
Robert
Vrijenhoek, Ph.D. top of page
MBARI Senior Scientist
/staff/vrijen/
What is your role on this cruise?
Chief scientist and Principal Investigator of NSF-funded research
program.
What are your primary goals?
Our goal is to obtain biological samples from a series of hydrothermal
vents in the Lau Basin and North Fiji Basin.
What do you expect to find?
Back at MBARI, we will examine DNA sequences from the animals collected
during this expedition and use the genetic data to investigate patterns and
rates of dispersal (gene flow) among these vent localities. In addition, we
expect to find some species that are new to science. Such discoveries occur
just about every time we explore a new deep-sea region. Taxonomic experts
collaborate with us to identify the organisms and publish formal descriptions
of the new species.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
The few weeks before an expedition are always hectic with all the worries
about your equipment and scientists getting to the ship on time. It's not
much fun to travel much anymore with all the concerns about security. Nevertheless,
the opportunity to visit new places and see new things outweighs the inconvenience
and keeps me going. The cruises themselves are enjoyable once you leave the
dock. I enjoy most the interactions with a diverse group of scientists. Frankly,
most of the chemistry, geology, microbiology, and oceanography I have learned
was acquired at sea with the help and patience of my scientific colleagues
and collaborators.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
My title at MBARI is Senior Scientist. I became a scientist because its
like living in Neverland. Creative scientists don't have to grow up. They
find rewards in looking at the world with a child-like wonder, asking endless
questions about how things work, how things came to be, why things work one
way rather than some other way, and not being easily satisfied with answers
found in the textbooks. So, we find our own answers by designing experiments
and conducting investigations like this expedition. I always wanted to be
a biologist. Several of my college professors recognized my boundless curiosity,
so they encouraged me to go to graduate school and earn a Ph.D. Its a decision
I have never regretted. I might look a little old and grey-haired, but inside
I am still a 9-year old boy who likes to play in puddles.
Any other comments/thoughts for those reading about you?
I don't want to leave the impression that being a scientist is easy,
nothing but fun and games. Getting the education that allows us to function
as research scientists requires many years of hard work, including college
and graduate degrees that must be earned. Sometimes, our best efforts result
in failed experiments. But we learn from the mistakes. Also, succeeding as
a scientist requires a bit of good fortune. Occasionally good new opportunities
pass your way, but just being lucky is not enough. Being armed with a broad
education, the right set of questions, and proper tools allows a scientist
to exploit those opportunities in creative ways.
Cindy
Lee Van Dover, Ph.D. top of page
Majorie S. Curtis Associate Professor, Biology Department, The College
of William & Mary
What is your role on this cruise?
Principal Investigator of an NSF-funded research program
What are your primary goals?
My team is engaged in a comparative study of community structure of invertebrates
(small polychaetes, gastropods, and crustaceans) that live within mussel beds.
We will collect quantitative samples from mussel beds and compare Western
Pacific communities with what we have already documented for mussel beds to
the north, at 17S, 9N, and 11N on the East Pacific Rise. This work complements
that of Bob Vrijenhoek's team, whose molecular studies are restricted to a
few species. Bob gets a much more detailed look at what individual species
are doing at a genetic level, while we provide an overview of how the entire
community (dozens of species) changes along the ridge axis and across potential
barriers or filters to species' dispersal.
What do you expect to find?
Because we are diving in an extremely remote location, we have the chance
of finding organisms that belong to groups of animals never before seen at
vents, so there is an element of exploration and discovery in our work that
gives this cruise an added spice.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
I never like that first day at sea―I get seasick!
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
I am a college professor. The academic world of teaching and research
is a dynamic and exciting one. Each day brings a new challenge, each day brings
a new reward. I am never bored, I interact with wonderful colleagues, I have
a chance to learn new things about the world and to help others to learn.
I took a non-traditional route to becoming a college professor, but the basic education requirements are the same for us all - high school, college, graduate school, post-doc. I was a college drop-out; I worked as a technician for several years before finally going to graduate school, my post-doc was as a technician and pilot with the Alvin group, I spent a wonderful year as a visiting scholar at Duke University before getting a "real" job in Alaska as a program manager of a NOAA-sponsored program that funded deep-sea research. Finally, in 1998, I was offered and accepted a position as assistant professor at The College of William & Mary. After my 5th year here, I was awarded tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor.
Any other comments/thoughts for those reading about you?
There is so much of the deep ocean that is unexplored and unknown. Our
ignorance of processes in the deep sea is so profound that generations of
scientists will be working to understand all that goes on there. I hope that
the human impact on our planet does not force these generations to come to
race to understand the deep ocean as it undergoes irreversible changes that
will dramatically alter the climate of our planet.
Lizzie
Blake top of page
Graduate Student, College of William & Mary
What is your role on this cruise?
My job on this cruise is to sort samples from the vent sites. And to fix and
preserve samples for further observations.
What are your primary goals?
My primary goals are to collect tons of samples of hydrothermal vent
invertebrates to study for my Masters’ thesis and to learn new techniques
of studying vent fauna.
What do you expect to find?
I expect find many lovely patches of bivalves, new species or two, and GOLD!
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
I don’t know yet, I have never been on a research cruise yet. I just
hope I don’t get seasick.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
I have always been interested in the unknown. The deep ocean comprises over
70% of the earth, but so little is known about it. If you put in a little
effort you are bound to discover something nobody has ever known before. I
have worked in Cindy Van Dover’s lab for the past four years. I love the opportunities
I have had in her lab.
Todd
Bliss top of page
Biology Teacher, Pacific Grove High School
What is your role on this cruise?
I will funnel information regarding the cruise to the MBARI website. I will
also be the liaison to several schools on the Monterey Peninsula.
What are your primary goals?
My primary goals are to effectively relay information to the MBARI
website and to help create interest among K-12 students from Pacific Grove,
Monterey and Carmel schools.
What do you expect to find?
I expect to find many bright, creative science types who will tell
stories taller than Sequoias in Death Valley.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
I have never been on a cruise this lengthy. I am looking forward
to learning more biology, doing anything I can to help out and being a positive
influence on the students of my district.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
I am a high school biology teacher. I decided to use my biology education
to put food on the table and join a retirement system. I became one after
many years as a naturalist. I got very fortunate fifteen years ago to take
over for a teacher who retired mid-year. I am still at it.
Katharine
Coykendall top of page
Graduate Research Assistant, MBARI
What is your role on this cruise?
I will be helping to sort and dissect animals as they are brought on board.
What are your primary goals?
My goals are to 1) not get seasick 2) increase my sparse knowledge
of deep sea fauna and geology.
What do you expect to find?
I don't necessarily expect to find anything in particular. I hope to see a
wide variety of critters throughout the dive sites so I can become familiar
with the ecosystem.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
Favorite: lots of good food, extensive library on board, being surrounded
by many different kinds of experts. Least favorite: wondering if I'm going
to get seasick.
What is your job title? Why did you
decide to become one? And how did you become one?
Graduate research assistant. My undergraduate major was marine science, my
graduate work is in genetics. I've wanted to be a marine biologist since the
3rd grade. I enjoy math and puzzles so genetics seemed a logical choice. I
picked a college with a good marine science program and I volunteered early
and often in labs to find out what I wanted. Researchers LOVE volunteers!
Kristin
Erickson. top of page
Graduate Student, College of William and Mary
What is your role on this cruise?
My role is to ensure that our sampling technique is successful. Once
we have the samples in hand I will be recording data and then preparing, processing
and fixing mussel and polychaete samples for future observations. Then I can
jump in wherever I’m needed!
What are your primary goals?
My primary focus is on accumulating samples for my thesis work with
Dr. Van Dover. This entails collecting and preserving specimens from mussel
beds along with preserving polynoid (scale worm) specimens. My studies will
help gain a better understanding of the astounding diversity associated with
polychaete reproduction and life history. I will also be working with the
community structure of mussel beds at hydrothermal vents and seeps. The data
collected from such secluded locations as Fiji/Lau will provide information
to help answer many questions concerning biogeography.
What do you expect to find?
An amazing new world! I associate vents with unexpected not expected…the
mystique surrounding them is what intrigues me!
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
This is my first hydrothermal vent cruise, but having experienced research
cruises in the past I would have to say my favorite thing is meeting new people
and the traveling!! This is such a brilliant opportunity to learn new techniques
and obtain information from scientists who have devoted their lives to these
systems…not to mention experiencing this mystifying world first hand! I can’t
say that I have a least favorite. The cruise, samples, experience and mystery
will all end too soon and yet not soon enough at times…it’s all to new and
exciting to think about least favorites.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
Currently, I am a graduate student at the College of William and
Mary, Williamsburg, VA
I truly knew I wanted to work in marine biology after taking a field research
course in Jamaica. Keep in mind that a scuba certification and marine biology
courses are kind of hard to come by in Illinois (thanks Mom and Dad!), but
that course at Rock Valley College with Dr. Vee hooked me. After that my Embryology
professor, Dr. Muhlach at SIUC, grabbed my attention and I’ve been interested
in reproduction ever since. After my undergraduate work at SIUC I decided
to put my theoretical work into practice. I took the opportunity to work first
as an educator/aquarist at the John G. Shedd Aquarium, an animal trainer at
Sea World and finally in research and rehabilitation of sea turtles at the
Marine Life Center. Taking the time to experience the many disciplines of
science I saw the opportunities that awaited me as a graduate student. I took
a job at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and began taking courses
while I searched for the right sub discipline and advisor. Luckily I found
Dr. Van Dover and the world of hydrothermal vents.
Any other comments/thoughts for those reading about you?
You can’t imagine the opportunities this field provides. I can’t imagine
having not taken advantage of them…and I wouldn’t be able to without my friends
and family! Thanks for taking care of my pups Todd!
Shana
Goffredi, Ph.D. top of page
Senior Research Fellow, California Institute of Technology
What is your role on this cruise?
To carry out my own research goals and, like everyone, to contribute
to the general success of the cruise. It is definitely a team effort when
you are at sea. The hours are long and the setting is not the most comfortable
so it requires that everyone pitch in when they’re feeling up for it. We have
a great group of scientists on board so it should not only be a learning experience
but also very worthwhile scientifically.
What are your primary goals?
My primary research interests concern the ecological physiology of
marine animals. I enjoy studying the complex associations between animals,
particularly marine invertebrates, and their surroundings. The goal of eco-physiology
is to identify and determine the adaptive significance of physiological mechanisms.
I consider extreme environments the ideal place to accomplish this goal. Animals
living in these environments are pushing the limits, or at least our perceived
limits, of physiology and biochemistry. Obvious extreme environments include
the deep-sea and sulfide-rich hydrothermal vents and seeps, which we will
be exploring on this cruise.
What do you expect to find?
It is always hard to predict what you might find when exploring an area
of the seafloor that has never been observed before. Past experience suggests
that we will make many new discoveries, hopefully of wild and wonderful animals
that are making a living in ways we could never imagine.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
Being at sea can be the most peaceful and the most grueling of experiences.
When you get a quiet moment at sea there is nothing that compares… the vast
ocean really gives new perspective to our hectic lives on land. The least
favorite: no routine exercise and none of my favorite foods (I eat tofu for
a week when I get back from a 4 week cruise).
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
Marine Biologist. I always knew I loved biology but it wasn’t until college
that I gained exposure to the ocean and the possibility of becoming a marine
biologist professionally. Educationally, it was sort of a natural progression
from undergraduate study (where I majored in Biology/Marine Science) to a
graduate doctoral degree at UC Santa Barbara (Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution,
and Marine Biology). After that I went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research
Institute as a post-doctoral researcher and stayed on for another 3 years
as a research associate. After that I was hooked! I can’t imagine doing anything
else with my career.
Taylor
Heyl top of page
Research Technician, College of William & Mary
What is your role on this cruise?
My role on this cruise is to help the Van Dover lab with the sampling
of deep-sea mussel communities
using the ROV Jason II, to assemble mussel pots after each Jason
dive and to process samples collected in the pots.
What are your primary goals?
My primary goals are to assist with sampling of hydrothermal vent invertebrates,
especially mussel communities, and to learn more about the biology and geology
of vents within the Fiji/Lau basins.
What do you expect to find?
I expect to find large communities of mussels and maybe even clams. I
am hoping to see some seep fauna as well.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
My favorite part of the cruise is being involved with deep submergence
vehicles that give us a chance to visit the deep sea, to explore, and to see
a completely unknown view of the world. My least favorite part of the cruise
is the transit home.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
I just finished a master's degree at the College of William & Mary
in marine biology, studying clams and their environment at a deep-sea cold
seep. I have wanted to study in the deep sea since I was 8 years old. My father
took me to a deep-sea seminar at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
and as soon as I saw the deep-submergence vehicle, Alvin, I knew that
was what I wanted to do with my life. I studied marine science as an undergraduate,
working in several laboratories to get research experience, and when I graduated,
moved to Kodiak, Alaska to work on fish in the Gulf of Alaska. I found a researcher
in Kodiak studying deep-sea crabs on seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska. When
he saw my enthusiasm, he asked me to work for him, took me on a deep-sea research
cruise and gave me my first Alvin dive. After that, I was hooked!
I moved to Virginia to work with Cindy Lee Van Dover. In her lab, I was given
opportunities to go to sea, to travel all over the world and to do what I
love most of all, to study the world at the bottom of the ocean.
Ana
Hilario top of page
Ph.D. Student, Southampton University
What is your role on this cruise?
On this cruise I will be looking at reproductive aspects of vestimentiferans.
I will also be assisting with the daily cruise logs to shore.
What are your primary goals?
My goal is to learn more about the biology and geology of the hydrothermal
vents in the vicinity of the Easter and Juan Fernandez Microplates.
What do you expect to find?
Lots of tubeworms!
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
My favorite part of a research cruise... hmmm... the ocean! What I don't
like? That's an easy one: waking up early in the morning!
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
I am currently finishing my Ph.D. at Southampton University. I got into
marine biology because of a curiosity in the ocean and all its living creatures.
I studied aquatic sciences as an undergraduate at University of Porto (Portugal)
and have spent the last 3 years in the Southampton Oceanography Center studying
the reproduction of Vestimentiferan tubeworms from hydrothermal vents and
cold seeps.
Carol
Logan top of page
Undergraduate Student, College of William & Mary
What is your role on this cruise?
I will be helping Cindy Van Dover sort and prepare samples from mussel
beds and assisting in any other way I can.
What are your primary goals?
To learn what I can about hydrothermal vent communities and see the giant
tubeworms and other unusual and rare creatures that live at the bottom of
the ocean.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
This is my first research cruise so I don't have any least favorites yet.
I'm excited about everything new that I will see and learn on the trip.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
I first learned about the ocean and the deepsea with all its mysteries
from my older brother and have found it fascinating ever since. I love aquariums
and learning about life in the ocean, especially recent discoveries. I had
the opportunity to join Cindy Van Dover's lab this past winter and now study
it first hand. I am working on my senior honors thesis studying strange inclusions
in mussel digestive tissue.
Karen
Jacobsen top of page
Scientific Illustrator, In Situ Scientific Illustration
What is your role on this cruise?
My role is to draw and paint all the sample material— mostly vent
animal life and, also any “landscape” or scenery that is seen through video
and or while diving. I will visually record as much as possible, and be working
with Cindy Van Dover’s and Bob Vrijenhoek’s team to produce anything they
might need to assist with public outreach projects, or supplement their own
research presentations.
What do you expect to find?
Although not involved directly with any specific research task, I expect
to find an entire ecosystem of vent life that is new to me, and to fill my
sketchbook pages with incredible images of the fauna found.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
My favorite part of a research cruise is being involved with the cruise
in the first place. Tahiti –Easter will be my 8th cruise and Fiji/Lau will
be my 9th, and I love the total emersion into my work that I don’t do when
I am working at home. Transit days are often the most difficult for me, besides
heavy seas or getting seasick. But being away from my loved ones is also hard,
but email makes that so much better now.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
As mentioned before I am a scientific illustrator, or natural science
illustrator, but I specialize in expedition illustration. I started life as
an artist, and college as an art major, but I was always thinking there was
something different for me to pursue within the field of art since my work
was focused on what I could see, not abstract emotional representation. One
day while walking through the science lab building en route to class, I saw
a flyer for: Natural Science Illustration/For Science Majors and that was
it, I knew what I was supposed to do. So I did it, and re-invented up my own
career as expedition illustrator in the process. My first research trip was
in 1984 with marine mammologists Bernie Le Boeuf from UCSC, and Karl Kenyon
searching for the Caribbean Monk Seal, and since then I have done trips with
archeological digs in the Middle East, old growth forests studies in Southern
Chile, marine work from the Chukchi and Bering Seas, Japan and all sorts of
blue water stops in between.
Shannon
Johnson top of page
Research Technician, MBARI
/staff/sjohnson/
What is your role on this cruise?
To assist with collecting and processing samples.
What are your primary goals?
I am interested in sampling more gastropods and Lepetodrilid limpets
from the Western Pacific for studies on population genetics.
What do you expect to find?
Lots of tubeworms and gastropods and limpets living on their tubes. Also
polychaetes and Bathymoliolid mussels.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
My favorite part is when the animals first come up from the sub, it is
really fun and exciting to see in person all the stuff you see on the screen
in the control room. On the monitors, everything looks HUGE, then it comes
up and it is so tiny. We are always finding new things and new species so
it is very exciting work. The hardest thing will be being away from my fiancé,
Shane, and my dog Cassy.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
Research Technician. It was always my dream job. I have a hard time paying
attention to any one thing for a really long time so research is great. Everything
is always changing and you very seldom do the same thing for an extended time
period. Being a tech is the best of both worlds because you are able to do
original research and write papers, but you don't have to write grants to
get funded. I became a technician as I was finishing graduate school. I started
part-time at MBARI, then I got lucky and a got a full-time position.
Any other comments/thoughts for those reading about you?
I still love my job!
Amanda
Jones top of page
Research Assistant, MBARI
What is your role on this cruise?
My role is to help process samples that are collected using the ROV
Jason II and contribute in any way I can to the overall success of
this research cruise.
What are your primary goals?
My primary goal is to help ensure that the organisms we collect for later
study are properly dissected, preserved and labeled. This will help things
go smoothly once we are back in the lab. I also hope to take advantage of
this amazing opportunity and learn as much as I can from our research and
the other scientists onboard.
What do you expect to find?
Hopefully we will find lots of organisms associated with hydrothermal
vents and seeps.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My favorite part of participating in this type of research is being able
to travel, meet new people and be completely immersed in science. My least
favorite part of fieldwork is not being with loved ones back home. I will
really miss our hound, Foxie, and being able to talk to my family whenever
I want. (Thanks Dad for house/dog sitting!)
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how did you
become one?
I am a Research Assistant in Dr. Vrijenhoek's lab at MBARI. In elementary
school I took a trip on a glass bottom boat near Catalina Island. After that,
I was convinced that I wanted to study some aspect of marine biology. I received
my Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology from the University of California,
Santa Cruz. While at UCSC, I took advantage of opportunities to work with
marine mammals in both lab and field settings. Since I have graduated, I have
been very fortunate to be able to work in remote island field stations studying
marine birds and Hawaiian Monk seals. I also have done quite a bit of work
with informal science education. Marine science is a great hook to get kids
interested in the science they are being taught in school. My latest and greatest
job is to work in the Monterey Bay area at MBARI. It is truly amazing how
much talent is concentrated around the bay.
Joe
Jones, Ph.D. top of pageMBARI Research Technician / Project Manager
What is your role on this cruise?
My role on this cruise will be assisting with sorting and organizing organisms
we bring up with Jason. I will also be performing tissue dissections
on samples we collect. I'm also responsible for making sure everything we
need is on the ship for the dives as well as making sure all the samples and
equipment get home safely.
What are your primary goals?
My primary goal is to sort and preserve biological samples from the Jason
dives so that they are catalogued and archived. Additionally, my goal is to
make sure all of the samples get back to our research lab in the best possible
condition.
What do you expect to find?
I hope to find additional populations of deep-sea animals that our
lab is studying. We use genetic tools to determine relationships among hydrothermal
vent organisms from throughout the Eastern Pacific. We have a general idea
of what we'll find, but the deep-sea is always full of surprises and new species.
"Expect the unexpected" is my general motto when at sea.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
My favorite part of a research cruise is the total immersion (pun
partially intended) in the dive and the sample processing. Working until 2
AM is not that bad with all the excitement of the new animals and rocks. On
the last cruise that I was on, I got to dive in Alvin twice! Also,
my partner in crime (Amanda) will join us for this expedition.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
My official job title is Research Technician/Project Manager. I do a lot
of DNA work including molecular biology and phylogenetics. I also do a lot
of managerial work such as making sure the research lab is fully stocked and
running smoothly. I am also responsible for managing the lab's various project
budgets.
When I was growing up in South Carolina, my parents would take my sister and
I to the beach for a family vacation. My parents encouraged my interest in
nature and the ocean when I was about 5 years old. I became fascinated with
the diversity of tide pools and learning about the tides. My family owns a
lot of land with ponds and creeks where I spent a lot of time exploring. My
fascination with fish, in particular, started when I was old enough to hold
a fishing rod and has increased continuously since. Also when I was growing
up, I was interested in how things work and why certain animals were found
certain places and not others. I obtained my B.S. at the University of South
Carolina in the Marine Science Program. I spent a lot of time volunteering
in an ichthyology research lab where I became serious about my pursuit of
a Ph.D. I also became involved with the Marine Science Undergraduate Society
(MSUS) where I helped organize undergraduate research trips to local barrier
islands. During my senior year, I did an independent research project in Dr.
Joe Quattro's lab on population genetics of an estuarine flatfish. Dr. Quattro
encouraged me to return to his lab after a brief summer at the Netherlands
Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) working as a visiting scientist. I returned
to Dr. Quattro's lab where I became involved in a number of projects ranging
from population genetic structure of summer flounder (my Masters thesis) to
conservation genetics of pygmy sunfishes in the southeast United States. I
moved to UC Santa Cruz following my Masters where I worked in Dr. Giacomo
Bernardi's lab. I focused on two native California freshwater minnow species
using DNA markers and phylogenetic methods. I've been working with Bob Vrijenhoek
at MBARI for about 2 1/2 years now. It's a great lab to be in with all the
exciting projects and people. Plus, we all get to travel to exotic places
to collect unusual animals with equipment such as the Alvin.
Victoria
Orphan, Ph.D. top of page
Assistant Professor, California Institute of Technology
http://www.gps.caltech.edu/people/vorphan/profile
What is your role on this cruise?
To study hyperthermophilic (heat loving) microbial communities within and
surrounding the hydrothermal vents and to assist with group related cruise
objectives. The research on this cruise is very diverse- from geological mapping
to micro and macro-ecology. Everyone works together and helps each other out
with the various research tasks to ensure the major cruise objectives are
met.
What are your primary goals?
My research interests on this cruise relate to understanding anaerobic microbial
carbon and sulfur cycling within hydrothermal vent systems and identifying
the microorganisms mediating these geochemical processes. I am particularly
interested in methane producing archaea, or methanogens, living in these extreme
habitats and how they relate to the methanogenic microorganisms found in deep
subsurface environments.
What do you expect to find?
No extensive microbiological studies have been conducted in this area so it¹s
tough to predict what we might find. Based on past experience from other hydrothermal
vent environments, I anticipate that we will be able to successfully culture
hyperthermophilic anaerobes from these new vents and will likely find microbial
mats covering areas of the seafloor. Most of the detailed microbiological
analyses (microscopy, DNA/RNA analyses) and potentially exciting discoveries
will occur back in my laboratory after the cruise.
What is your favorite part of a research cruise?
I really enjoy the interactions with the research scientists and getting to
know the crew while at sea. Spending many weeks on a research vessel allows
for ample time to talk with the other scientists on board and to learn about
their research. I also love the sense of adventure associated with deep-sea
exploration. Most days offer something new and exciting and the only routine
aspect of the research cruise is the meal times. During the less busy moments,
I also enjoy the solitude afforded by a quiet little corner on deck, gazing
up at the stars and having some quiet time to think. What is your least favorite
part of a research cruise? I dislike feeling lethargic from the ship¹s rocking
and banging my shin every time I climb into the top bunk. It¹s also difficult
to maintain an effective exercise schedule while at sea which also contributes
to feeling sleepy. No routine exercise and none of my favorite foods (I eat
tofu for a week when I get back from a 4 week cruise).
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become
one?
Assistant Professor of Geobiology. Since the age of 6, the ocean and its inhabitants
have intrigued me. I had many wonderful science teachers in junior high and
high school who nurtured my interest in biology and marine science as well
as supportive parents who encouraged me to try anything that interested me,
from scuba diving to science camp. My interest and love of microbiology and
geology developed later from research and courses in college and graduate
school.
Joshua
Osterberg top of page
Ph.D. Student, Duke University
http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/people/phdstudents/osterberg
What is your role on this cruise?
My role aboard the Melville will to be assist Dr. Van Dover with mussel
collections, sample preparation and processing, as well as help out with whatever
else needs to be done to make this cruise successful for everyone. I will
also be collecting larval and juvenile crabs of the genus Austinograea
and will be performing behavioral experiments to determine what kinds of chemical
and physical cues the crabs use to locate vents.
What are your primary goals?
My goal is to collect larval (megalopa stage) and juvenile stage crabs and
keep them alive. Megalopa and juvenile stages of a related crab found on the
East Pacific Rise survive at atmospheric pressure, and I hope these crabs
can too! If I can collect crabs and keep them alive I will be very happy.
If they live at the surface I can perform all sorts of assays to try to determine
how they find their way around vents.
What do you expect to find?
I expect to find that the larval stages of this crab can survive at atmospheric
pressure. I hypothesize that they display behaviors similar to those of estuarine
crabs, just perhaps in response to different cues.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
This will be my first cruise using the ROV Jason II, so learning how
it works and learning its capabilities and handicaps will be very exciting.
My favorite part of cruises is meeting all of the other participants and experiencing
hydrothermal vent ecosystems first hand. My least favorite part of cruises
is being away from the people I love.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
I am a graduate student at the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC
where I study the chemical ecology of estuarine and deep-sea hydrothermal
vent crabs with my advisor Dr. Dan Rittschof. I studied under Dr. Van Dover
at the College of William & Mary as an undergrad and took my first dive in
Alvin as an undergrad. I have always been captivated by the deep-sea
but after my first Alvin dive I knew I wanted to go to graduate school
to study hydrothermal vents. It has been a wonderful experience so far and
I can not imagine doing anything else. Traveling all over the world (to places
like Fiji!), diving to the bottom of the ocean, studying one of the most extreme
environments on Earth, finding new species...does it get any better than this?!
Fredrik
Pleijel, Ph.D. top of page
Professor, Göteborg University
What is your role on this cruise?
Collecting, identifying and processing animals (mainly polychaetes, marine
bristle worms) for morphological and molecular analyses
What are your primary goals?
Phylogenetic analyses of a series of polychaete groups from hydrothermal vents
What do you expect to find?
To find new, unknown polychaetes but also previously but poorly
known ones and that can be used for both morphological and molecular studies.
It will allow me to get access to specimen in excellent condition from a special
and rich environment that is very difficult to access.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
Favorite: collecting beautiful and strange invertebrates. Least favorite:
trying to work in very rough weather.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
Polychaete taxonomist. During classes in marine biology at the university
I became fascinated by the fact that worms can be so amazingly diverse and
wonderful. Initially also that it was a nightmare/challenge to identify and
put names on them (actually it often still is). So I continued these classes
with a Masters and a Ph.D. on taxonomy and phylogeny of polychaetes.
Greg
Rouse, Ph.D. top of page
South Australian Museum
http://www.ees.adelaide.edu.au/people/enviro/grouse01.html
What is your role on this cruise?
I work on polychaete annelids and we expect to find a diverse assemblage
of these worms. I'll be photographing and processing the worms for morphological
and molecular studies.
What are your primary goals?
To find as many wonderful worms as possible.
What do you expect to find?
A lot of wonderful worms. I'm very interested to see vestimentiferans
since I have mainly worked on them 'from a distance'. We'll try removal techniques
that might yield some other organisms not seen before.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
Favorite is when the samples come up and the processing begins. Least
favorite is when its too rocky to photograph specimens well.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
Senior Research Scientist; South Australian Museum.
I wanted to be a marine biologist as a boy. I enjoyed all the strange creatures I saw in rock pools by the shore. A Science degree followed by graduate school. An interest in photography and microscopes led me to worms and I've studied them ever since.
Suzanne
Schmitt. top of page
Ph.D. Student, Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Wuerzburg,
Germany
What is your role on this cruise?
I hopefully will collect and preserve a lot of different sponges for
further microscopic and molecular studies and I will also take water samples.
What are your primary goals?
Back home I will investigate the microbiology of deep sea sponges. My
goal is to characterize the microbial diversity, the abundance and distribution
of bacteria in the deep sea sponges and compare this microbial community to
bacteria found in the surrounding seawater and to bacteria associated with
sponges from different environments such as shallow coral reefs. These studies
will help to get a better understanding of this amazing association.
What do you expect to find?
I expect to find a lot of sponge diversity. Because there is very little
known about deep sea sponges I expect to find only poorly described and/or
new species. It will be very interesting to see what kind of bacteria these
sponges harbour.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
I have not been on such a cruise before so I don't know exactly what to
expect. But I am very excited to see the life down there and I am curious
about the deep sea animals that will be sampled during the cruise.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
Currently, I am doing my Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Wuerzburg,
Germany in the lab of Dr. Ute Hentschel and I have worked in this lab for
over four years now. I was always interested in biology and especially in
ecology and evolution. Therefore, sponges with their long evolutionary history
and their association with enormous amounts of diverse bacteria are a perfect
subject to me. Now, to go into deep sea research is really exciting because
there is so much to discover…
Michel
Segonzac, Ph.D. top of page
IFREMER
What is your role on this cruise?
My role is to sort and try to pre-identify the fauna collected. I will
collaborate with Cindy Van Dover on the characterization of the invertebrate
community, with a special emphasis on the invertebrates that live in mussel
beds.
What are your primary goals?
In addition to the primary goals described above, I plan to use a baited
trap to collect the scavenging fauna of the vent communities, and to compare
them with those from northern sites. These scavengers include octopus, crabs
(and their ecto-parasites), galatheid crabs, shrimps, fish. This work contributes
to the goal of developing a complete faunal inventory and will be undertaken
in collaboration with Bob and Cindy. Another important goal of mine is to
talk with my American colleagues and exchange ideas about the biology of the
vent animals.
What do you expect to find?
The animals cited above, plus other few known animals (and probably
new species); plus other few known colleagues… to exchange ideas about the
fauna.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research cruise?
I do not know exactly, but all is good for me. To meet new people,
to taste American cooking, and other big pleasures and surprises!
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one? And how
did you become one?
The same as above, and responsible of the sorting center Centob (IFREMER,
Brest).
I never decided. Chance decided for me. I have always studied biology, but first I worked on the ecology of marine birds in sub-Antarctic islands, then on mammal and bird ecology in West Africa (Senegal). For the past 30 years, I have managed the sorting center associated with the Deep-Sea Laboratory at the French oceanographic institution IFREMER, in Brest, France.
Anders
Warén top of page
Museum Curator and Research Scientist
What is your role on this cruise?
I will study the gastropod fauna in the hydrothermal vents and assist others
with species identifications.
What are your primary
goals?
To get hold of some little known species I know to live in the study
area for further examination and perhaps find some previously unknown
species.
What do you expect to find?
What I expect to find is mainly what I know from other expeditions to this
area, but for many of the animals I need better, very young specimens or fully
adult ones. Usually the vent fauna is uniform and boring with quite a few
species and very many specimens to examine. But, there is all the time the
thrill: will there come a totally unknown and strange snail? At least twice
before this has happened during the exploration of hydrothermal vents.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
When you start examining a new sample or catch and you get an idea
of the quality of the collect. The part I like the least is all the
waiting. Sometimes it takes up to a week to get to the place where you work
and a week to return. I usually bring some work to fill empty hours but I
usually discover that I did not bring everything needed.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
I am mainly a research scientist, but I am also taking care of museum collections
of invertebrate animals. To become a research scientist is quite different
today then when I started almost 40 years ago. Of course, I started with University
studies. But after I had got the basic academic degree, I started my Ph.D.
studies, which then were very free and mostly consisted of my own studies
and not a single scheduled course. To survive this time I worked as an assistant
teacher of the basic courses in invertebrate zoology. After some 6 years,
a so-called supervisor asked if it was not time to graduate soon. So
I started a new project I thought would be more successful than my earlier
projects, and got a Ph.D. 3 years later. Then the Swedish NSF granted a 6
year research project. After that I found a permanent position at the Swedish
Museum of Natural History, where I have remained. I have continued with
research on marine snails and become engaged in some international projects.
A couple of years ago I met Bob Vrijenhoek, our expedition leader, and we
realized that that we could both profit from working together.
C.
R. (Robbie) Young top of page
MBARI, Graduate Research Assistant
What is your role on this cruise?
I will identify, sort, and archive biological samples that we collect.
I hope to collect tubeworms, clams, mussels, limpets, and other vent fauna
associated with these communities. We will also examine the bacterial symbionts
of these animals. I expect to find hydrothermal communities composed of mussel
beds, tubeworm patches, and clams.
What are your primary goals?
My primary goals are to examine the genetic structure of these populations
and to compare the animals from these sites to animals collected from hydrothermal
vent fields to the north.
What is your favorite/least favorite part of a research
cruise?
My favorite part of the research cruise is seeing a vent field for
the first time. My least favorite part of a research cruise is not being able
to walk in one direction for more than 270 feet for weeks at the time.
What is your job title? Why did you decide to become one?
And how did you become one?
I’m a graduate research assistant. I am doing my research at the Monterey
Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), and I am a student in the Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology program at University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).
To be a scientist takes a lot of training, and I went back to school to get
that training. I worked as a research technician for two years after getting
my undergraduate degree in biology at the University of South Carolina. I
moved to California in February of 2000 to work as a technician in Dr. Vrijenhoek’s
lab at MBARI, and went back to school that August. I expect to graduate from
UCSC at the end of this summer. My thesis includes three chapters. The first
is on the genetic population structure of a hydrothermal vent tubeworm (Ridgeia)
found on the Juan de Fuca, Gorda and Explorer (JGE) ridges in the northeast
Pacific. I am comparing larval dispersal of these tubeworms to currents in
the region predicted by a theoretical model of ocean circulation. The second
and third chapters concern the development of statistical methods to analyze
hybrid zones. I have also worked on several other studies while a student.
I’ve been involved in genetic studies of mussels on the East Pacific Rise
(EPR), bacterial symbionts of tubeworms on the EPR, and limpets on the JGE
ridge system. I worked on mathematical models of spawning strategy in these
systems and a model aimed at describing the effects of hunting policy on population
dynamics (population growth) of large game animals in Tanzania. I’ve worked
on phylogenetic studies, including species collected from hydrothermal vents
in the Indian Ocean and a group of malaria carrying mosquitoes in South America.