Update 1

Over the past week, Jenny and I have divided our time between processing samples in the lab and doing more fieldwork. We are finding a lot of material in the sediments from the sites at Ginger and Lagoon Islands. It is tedious work to scan the sediments, little by little, under the scope and find the fish otoliths--it's like picking out a grain of sand from thousands of other grains. But, this work when completed will allow us to compare the numbers of kinds of otoliths in each sample. By carefully counting, measuring, and recording these data we will be able to say something meaningful about the diet of these penguins, past and present. It is important for you to learn that science, without quantification, is nothing more than speculation.

In addition, we spent some time on a new island more distant from the base yesterday, Leonie Island. This island has beaches and terraces surrounding a large mountain in the middle. Other researchers from the base work there, including some German and Dutch scientists (see photo) who are studying lichens in the Antarctic. Lichens are plants that are composed of fungi and algae in a mutual relationship. They are fascinating plants that grow very slowly and usually are the first to colonize newly exposed terrain, such as areas exposed when a glacier retreats. There are probably over 400 species of lichens in the Antarctic (see photo of macrolichens, one of many types that occur here) and these scientists are studying their growth rates and physiology.

Jenny and I also returned to Lagoon Island where the melting snow is exposing more areas. We've found more penguin bones on the surface and may do some more excavations before we leave here later this month. We also collected more skua feces to analyze for otoliths in their diet. I allowed Jenny the great privilege of washing these samples in our screens!

In terms of weather, we have had some rain over the past few days, the first rain we've received here since arriving in early January. Approximately an inch of rain has fallen, but it has helped melt some of the snow that covers the areas we want to survey. On the next update, I'll let you know if we find any new sites exposed by the melting snow.

Questions, Comments
email David Hughes, djh6183@uncwil.edu
Last updated February 29, 2000