New Island, Falkland Islands
Our last day in the Falkland Islands. Before our arrival, the Falkland Islands were hard to imagine. Whist often in the international news during the 1980's, while the Falkland Island's War was in progress, today, we rarely hear about them, except for the odd reference. But for us, the guests of National Geographic Endeavour, we can now say that the Falklands have truly blown our minds. The diversity of the wildlife, the beauty of the rolling hills, the warmth of its residents (not to mention the teas!), have endeared us to these incredible windswept islands.
The waters surrounding the Falklands are some of the most commercially rich on the planet. Fisheries are a large part of the island economy, but the Falkland Islands Fisheries Management is dedicated to sustainability, and maintaining the conservation areas that have been created. As most of the fishing is done in deep water, sometimes greater than 600m, this is where most of the knowledge of the benthic community is from. However, there is another inshore bottom community which is just as rich.
The Falkland Islands are surrounded by kelp forests. Kelp, a brown algae, attaches to rocky substrates, by means of a hold fast, or elaborate system of root like structures. Incredibly resilient, usually only being torn away from the bottom in violent storms, it creates a protected environment for many species, keeping them in shelter, while still allowing currents to bring precious food particles to the filter feeders.
Underneath the kelp, a rich benthic community thrives. Sponges attach to rocky outcroppings, and brittle star arms wave through the hold fasts. A new species of Limpet has come onto the scene, the Keyhole Limpet. Unlike its cousins on the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia, this Limpet has a hole in the top of its shell, where water which has passed over its gill can exit the shell directly. The Keyhole Limpet not only grazes on algae, but also will eat tunicates, and even other small crustations.
Despite knowing so much about the deeper waters surrounding the islands, very little is known about this smaller shallow community. Recently a research group has been formed to study, describe, and catalog the creatures found near-shore – the Shallow Marine Surveys Group (SMSG). In the past two years they have been setting out on expeditions to the outer parts of the Falkland's, with the help of local boat owners, where they document, and at times take samples of the creatures they find. This knowledge is made readily available for all who are interested, on the world-wide web, as well as during local lectures.
As National Geographic Endeavour sails from New Island to head towards to Ushuaia, it suddenly dawns on us that we are almost to the end of our great adventure, not only in the Falklands, but South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula as well. Whilst much of tomorrow may be spent getting ready for our journey home, the nature of an expedition dictates that we never know what might happen, so the adventure continues, if only for one more day.
Our last day in the Falkland Islands. Before our arrival, the Falkland Islands were hard to imagine. Whist often in the international news during the 1980's, while the Falkland Island's War was in progress, today, we rarely hear about them, except for the odd reference. But for us, the guests of National Geographic Endeavour, we can now say that the Falklands have truly blown our minds. The diversity of the wildlife, the beauty of the rolling hills, the warmth of its residents (not to mention the teas!), have endeared us to these incredible windswept islands.
The waters surrounding the Falklands are some of the most commercially rich on the planet. Fisheries are a large part of the island economy, but the Falkland Islands Fisheries Management is dedicated to sustainability, and maintaining the conservation areas that have been created. As most of the fishing is done in deep water, sometimes greater than 600m, this is where most of the knowledge of the benthic community is from. However, there is another inshore bottom community which is just as rich.
The Falkland Islands are surrounded by kelp forests. Kelp, a brown algae, attaches to rocky substrates, by means of a hold fast, or elaborate system of root like structures. Incredibly resilient, usually only being torn away from the bottom in violent storms, it creates a protected environment for many species, keeping them in shelter, while still allowing currents to bring precious food particles to the filter feeders.
Underneath the kelp, a rich benthic community thrives. Sponges attach to rocky outcroppings, and brittle star arms wave through the hold fasts. A new species of Limpet has come onto the scene, the Keyhole Limpet. Unlike its cousins on the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia, this Limpet has a hole in the top of its shell, where water which has passed over its gill can exit the shell directly. The Keyhole Limpet not only grazes on algae, but also will eat tunicates, and even other small crustations.
Despite knowing so much about the deeper waters surrounding the islands, very little is known about this smaller shallow community. Recently a research group has been formed to study, describe, and catalog the creatures found near-shore – the Shallow Marine Surveys Group (SMSG). In the past two years they have been setting out on expeditions to the outer parts of the Falkland's, with the help of local boat owners, where they document, and at times take samples of the creatures they find. This knowledge is made readily available for all who are interested, on the world-wide web, as well as during local lectures.
As National Geographic Endeavour sails from New Island to head towards to Ushuaia, it suddenly dawns on us that we are almost to the end of our great adventure, not only in the Falklands, but South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula as well. Whilst much of tomorrow may be spent getting ready for our journey home, the nature of an expedition dictates that we never know what might happen, so the adventure continues, if only for one more day.
