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Biologists who search the Alaskan Arctic ecosystem are n’t just concerned in polar bear . Some are also captivated by the " jellylike species " hidden below the frosting .
Now , scientists have published rare footage of one of the Arctic ’s largestjellyfishdrifting beneath the ocean ice near Utqiaġvik , also acknowledge as Barrow , off the due north seacoast of Alaska .
Scientists spotted this huge jellyfish (Chrysaora melanaster) dragging a crustacean with one of its tentacles under the sea ice covering the Chukchi Sea off the north coast of Alaska.
Such videos are n’t easy to get . From May to June each year between 2011 and 2014 , the squad of researchers aim onto the frozen Chukchi Sea with snowmobiles , sometimes nearly 2 miles ( 3 kilometers ) from shore , and drill holes into the thickset ocean ice rink . They sent a camera - equipped underwater vehicle into the pee to have a look at the seafloor . [ See Amazing Images of Jellyfish Swarms ]
The scientist becharm footage ofalgae , crustaceans and several species of comb jelly ( also know as comb jelly ) under the icing . But the boastful surprise was finding adult of a mintage of jellyfish have it off asChrysaora melanaster . The bell of this type of Portuguese man-of-war can reach 24 inches ( 60 centimeter ) across , with its two 12 or so tentacles extending up to almost 10 base ( 3 meters ) , according tothe Census of Marine Life . The researcher counted 55 of these jellyfish , all of which seem healthy and in their adult , or medusan , microscope stage . They were often haul their recollective tentacle along the seafloor , likely adjudicate to pick up food — with some apparent success . At least one of the man-of-war was seen convey an isopod , a case of crustacean .
The comportment of grownup man-of-war during the previous bounce and early summer suggests theseC. melanastermedusas can subsist the Arctic winter , according to the inquiry published in the journalMarine Ecology Progress Serieson Oct. 23 . Like most jellyfish , this mintage was think to know for only a few calendar month . And scientist call up the metal money survived the wintertime only in the polypus stage of their lifetime cycle . ( Bottom - dwelling polypus settle on rock or other surfaces andproduce infant jellyfishin the natural spring . )
" Life under sea ice is like live in a refrigerator — everything slacken down , " subject field co - author Andy Juhl , a nautical life scientist at Columbia University ’s Lamont - Doherty Earth Observatory , tell his department’sblog . Juhl and his confrere think that thick sea ice in winter facilitate protect the medusas from rough seas , while the broken temperature help slow their metamorphosis so they do n’t need much food for thought to survive .
" We think that the preponderance of jellyfish and ctenophores inhabit through the wintertime is enceinte than generally value , " the researchers wrote .
The Arctic has been experiencingrecord - humble storey of sea icein recent years due toclimate modification . The authors of the raw study noted that jellyfish populations could be more raw to these change than scientist had call up .
" translate the implications of changing ocean - ice conditions will become increasingly important as coastal Arctic seas become more clear to transportation , commercial fishing , petroleum and gas exploration , and other forms of commercial victimization , " Juhl and his colleagues wrote .
Original clause on Live Science .
