The Mission
Cruise NBP 25-01
Our team of four scientists who study the biology of marine invertebrate animals (i.e., animals without backbones) will board the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer in Lyttleton, New Zealand on 11 February 2025 and embark on a two-month voyage to Antarctica returning to Lyttleton on 16 April 2025. During the expedition, we will sample and study marine invertebrates living in some of the most remote but fastest changing seas on the planet. Specifically, the team will explore the biodiversity, evolution, and biogeographic patterns of comma shrimp (Cumacea) and other peracarid crustaceans living in the Ross Sea using morphological and molecular tools to assess Antarctic biodiveristy, unrecognized genetic variation, and evolutionary relationships.
Our team includes members from three different institutions funded by several different grants from the United States National Science Foundation. Details on the funded projects we will be working on during the cruise are below and more information on the scientific team can be found on the Participants page.
This research would not be possible without the expertise and dedication of the ship's crew from Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) and personnel from the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).
Our team of four scientists who study the biology of marine invertebrate animals (i.e., animals without backbones) will board the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer in Lyttleton, New Zealand on 11 February 2025 and embark on a two-month voyage to Antarctica returning to Lyttleton on 16 April 2025. During the expedition, we will sample and study marine invertebrates living in some of the most remote but fastest changing seas on the planet. Specifically, the team will explore the biodiversity, evolution, and biogeographic patterns of comma shrimp (Cumacea) and other peracarid crustaceans living in the Ross Sea using morphological and molecular tools to assess Antarctic biodiveristy, unrecognized genetic variation, and evolutionary relationships.
Our team includes members from three different institutions funded by several different grants from the United States National Science Foundation. Details on the funded projects we will be working on during the cruise are below and more information on the scientific team can be found on the Participants page.
This research would not be possible without the expertise and dedication of the ship's crew from Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) and personnel from the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).
The Ship
Our home during cruise will be the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer. The Palmer is a 94-meter research ship with icebreaking capability. For more information on the ship, visit the USAP Vessel Science and Operations page.
Past and Present IcyInverts PI
Institutions and Laboratories
Funding
Social Media
Follow the hashtags #IcyInverts, #Peracarida, #ConfusingCrustaceans, and #SweatTheSmallStuff on social media and check out our individual and lab social media handles on the Participants page. We will make every effort to keep our followers posted on what's going on during the cruise but internet access will be limited so we may be unable to do this at times.