Argentina–Chile National Geographic Pristine Seas Expedition To The Antarctic Peninsula - Deep Sea Cam Data

Study Extent

Western Antarctic Peninsula

Sampling

National Geographic’s deep-sea cameras were used to quantify marine life along the shelf of the WAP. These systems consist of high definition cameras (Sony Handycam FDR-AX33 4K Ultra-High Definition video with a 20.6 megapixel still image capability) in a 33-cm diameter borosilicate glass sphere that is rated to ~7,000 m depth. Viewing area per frame for the cameras is ca. 17 m2, depending on the steepness of the slope where the camera lands. Cameras were baited with ~ 1 kg of frozen sardines and deployed for ~ three hrs. Lighting at depth was achieved through a high-intensity LED array. Depth gauging was accomplished using an internal logging pressure sensor. The cameras were weighted with a 12-kg locally procured biodegradable sandbag weight with a descent rate of ~1 m s-1. At the programmed time, sandbag weights were automatically released allowing the cameras to return to the surface. A total of 20 camera deployments were conducted in January 2019 in the study area, which were aggregated in three major areas: King George/25 de Mayo Island (KG, n=5), Deception Island (DEC, n=3), and along the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP, n=12). Video footage was annotated for taxa present (identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level) and the maximum number of individuals of a given taxon per video frame (MaxN). Frequency of occurrence (Freq. occ. %) for each taxon observed was calculated as the percentage of incidence across all deployments. Taxa were classified as VME taxa based on CCAMLR. The substrata for each camera deployment were classified into standard geological categories consisting of mud, pebble, cobble, and boulder. Seafloor type was defined by the approximate percent cover of the two most prevalent substrata in each habitat patch. The first type was the substratum accounting for ≥ 50% of the patch, and the second most prevalent substratum accounting for an additional ≥ 30% of the patch.

Quality Control

Taxa were matched using the World Register of Marine Species (marinespecies.org)

Method steps

1. /

1. Actinopterygii
   rank: class
2. Anthozoa
   rank: class
3. Ascidiacea
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4. Asteroidea
   rank: class
5. Aves
   rank: class
6. Cephalopoda
   rank: class
7. Crinoidea
   rank: class
8. Demospongiae
   rank: class
9. Echinoidea
   rank: class
10. Elasmobranchii
    rank: class
11. Gastropoda
    rank: class
12. Gymnolaemata
    rank: class
13. Hexactinellida
    rank: class
14. Holothuroidea
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15. Hydrozoa
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16. Malacostraca
    rank: class
17. Mammalia
    rank: class
18. Nuda
    rank: class
19. Ophiuroidea
    rank: class
20. Pilidiophora
    rank: class
21. Polychaeta
    rank: class
22. Sagittoidea
    rank: class
23. Scyphozoa
    rank: class
24. Tentaculata
    rank: class

Western Antarctic Peninsula, King George Island, Isla 2 de Mayo, Deception Island, Danco Coast, Gerlache Strait