tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3433304117507034540.post4743444211217472050..comments2024-03-27T10:06:07.100-07:00Comments on The Echinoblog: New genera and species of Antarctic Starfish! Stories behind the species!ChrisMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11784970666468925633noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3433304117507034540.post-78277100988346966362011-03-31T09:46:35.929-07:002011-03-31T09:46:35.929-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Carlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01544208973017720029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3433304117507034540.post-87094947781163783462011-02-15T09:56:50.274-08:002011-02-15T09:56:50.274-08:00Distribution of deep-sea animals is often patchy. ...Distribution of deep-sea animals is often patchy. One or two in one area-but then hundreds in another. <br /><br />It would probably be more accurate to say that these species are "rarely encountered" rather than rare since we don't have any data on their ACTUAL abundance in the wild. <br /><br />There are circumstances where 40 years have passed where you get nothing. But then one lucky cruise-nabs you 100 specimens. And you never see them again. So, yes. There's definitely the possibility that one could see rare species (and specimens again). But its also possible that might not happen again in your life time.<br /><br />Based on the whole model of "Paleozoic style" ecosystem..the presence of more crabs in the Antarctic would most immediately affect soft-bodied organisms such as the giant worms or the soft-bodied starfish. Some of the suspension feeding forms-crinoids, asteroids, etc. with their long vulnerable arms would also be likely affected.<br /><br />In theory, the long term effects would be that they would be wiped out. So, it would seem that the prospects for such an ecosystem do not look good...But there are any number of other unanticipated factors when considering a scenario such as that one. I would perceive it as negative-but the actual outcome might be quite different.ChrisMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11784970666468925633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3433304117507034540.post-44478684882304784142011-02-14T23:35:55.355-08:002011-02-14T23:35:55.355-08:00Pretty cool stuff. I wonder, since these are cata...Pretty cool stuff. I wonder, since these are cataloged specimens, any ideas about abundance/distribution of any of these? Do you think you would find some of the rare specimens again if you tried?<br />Also, with warming there is the looming threat of deepwater crabs moving onto the Antarctic shelf, thoughts on what that might mean to the starfish?JohnnyScallopshttp://www.coz.southernfriedscience.comnoreply@blogger.com