Huge sea snails, jellyfish with tentacles up to 4 meters long and starfish the size of big food platters were some of the species found during research vessel Tangaroa's 50-day, 3,200-kilometer voyage in the Ross Sea, New Zealand marine scientist Don Robertson said.
"I would say there will be hundreds" of previously unknown organisms and "a lot of new species" among the 30,000 specimens collected, Robertson said.
Cold temperatures, low predator numbers, high levels of oxygen in the seawater and even longevity could explain the size of some specimens, said Robertson, a science manager with New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, or NIWA.
The most comprehensive of its kind so far, the team's Ross Sea survey is part of the International Polar Year program involving 23 countries and ten other voyages to survey marine life and habitats around the frozen southern continent. The survey voyages are expected to be complete in July 2009.
The researchers sampled every level of water from the surface to the sea floor up to 3,500 meters below. Going through the 30,000 specimens from the Ross Sea survey alone could take an additional two years, and any potentially new species must be sent to experts for confirmation.
survey (n.) 调查;勘察The space center sent several robots to Mars for a survey of the planet's surface.
specimen (n.) 样本;样品The jeweler knew that Hannah wanted an amethyst bracelet after she showed him a specimen of the crystal.
voyage (n.) 航海;航行Christopher Columbus set sail on his first voyage to the New World in 1492.
to collect (v.) 收集Stella collects colorful scraps of fabric, which she uses to make quilts.
comprehensive (adj.) 包罗广泛的;总括性的The travel guidebook is popular because it contains comprehensive information about 25 cities.
continent (n.) 洲;大陆The Olympic torch arrived in China after traveling across five continents.
to sample (v.) 取样I usually don't eat spicy food, but I don't mind sampling a bit of the curry you made.
marine life 海洋生物Most cities have aquariums displaying a wide range of marine life, such as sharks and seals.
research vessel 研究船The research vessel has been monitoring the habits of humpback whales for many months.
sea floor 海底The scuba diver dove so deep that he could touch the sea floor with his feet.
