May 25th, 2010.
Welcome to my blog! This blog will document my upcoming adventure to Norway for the giant IPY (International Polar Year) conference in Oslo. I hope to update this several times a day once my journey begins. In an effort to get myself into the habit of updating the blog daily I will provide updates leading up to my trip.
My scientific interests are mainly with burrowing urchins (echinoids). So, for my first entry let us discuss the heart urchin Brissopsis lyrifera (Forbes, 1842) and its importance for structuring the marine benthos. B. lyrifera originated in the Miocene and exists today in the Atlantic and extends into the North Sea. B. lyrifera can completely submerge itself in the soft muddy substrates that are found off the coast of Norway. Due in part to its relatively large size (up to 60 mm) and abundance within the substrate (up to 30 per meter squared!) a large amount of sediment is disturbed. One effect of this burrowing is to stir up the benthos which in turn oxygenates more of the sediment and may promote higher diversity. Other nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate may also be affected by these echinoid's movements within the sediment.
Norwegian word of the day! Vitenskap (Norwegian for "science")
Till next time,
Justin
