On February 9, 2002, we arrived at King George Island as scheduled. The flight from Punta Arenas took three hours on a twin-engine plane. King George Island is one of the South Shetland Islands located at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, at 62 degrees 12 minutes south latitude and 58 degrees 57 minutes west longitude. The straight-line distance from Japan is approximately 18,000 kilometers.

Currently, the island is experiencing a short summer, with temperatures only around 0-5°C. There is very little snow on the island, and the landscape is a desolate, rocky wasteland. We are staying at the Edoardo Frey Chilean Air Force Base on the island, collecting marine life from the Antarctic region.

Underwater collecting is done by scuba diving in a drysuit. The water temperature is below 1°C. The sea is so cold that you can't keep your bare hands in it for more than 5 seconds, but surprisingly, a lot of fish, shellfish, and other invertebrates can be found underwater. Sometimes, chinstrap penguins come to visit while we're collecting underwater.

Photo above: A type of isopod called "Glyptus" Glyptonotus antarcticus Glyptos are isopods, just like pill bugs.
Photo below: Chinstrap penguin

◎ Answers to questions about Antarctica

Now, let me answer the questions you've all submitted.

Q1: How many different kinds of animals live in Antarctica?

A1—That's a very difficult question! It's said that there are about 200 species of fish living in the Antarctic Ocean, but if you include large mammals such as seals and whales, as well as invertebrates such as snails, starfish and sea urchins, crabs and shrimp, and even tiny plankton that are invisible to the naked eye, then there are a great many different kinds of marine life living there.
On land, there are also birds, including penguins, and insects. Therefore, I cannot give you an exact number of species, but let me introduce some of the representative creatures we observed on King George Island.

【land】
Mammals: Southern elephant seal, Weddel seal
Birds────Chinstrap penguin, Adélie penguin, Gentoo penguin,
Southern Giant Petrel, Antarctic Skua,
Antarctic Tern
[Under the sea]
Fish -- Bullhead notosen and other members of the Notosenia genus
Mollusks────Nasera conchina (a type of limpet)
Arthropods—Glyptnotus antarcticus (as mentioned above)
(e.g., "glyptos")

Q2: Are there insects in Antarctica?

A2 -- As I answered above, insects do live there. Several species of springtails and one species of midge are known to inhabit the area around the Antarctic Peninsula where King George Island is located. However, unfortunately, these insects are too small for us to have seen.

Q3: There's a common perception that plants can't grow in Antarctica, but what's the reality?

A3—I'm not a plant expert, so I can't say for sure, but you won't find the kinds of plants that people generally imagine. As far as we can see, lichens grow on dry rocky surfaces, and mosses grow in wetlands. Also, although not very numerous, it seems that seed plants such as Antarctic grass and Antarctic green carnation grow wild north of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Although the exact age is unknown, the presence of fossilized wood in various locations suggests that forests once existed in this area during ancient times.

Q4 - Do penguins make sounds? How do they communicate with each other?

A4 -- Penguins make sounds too. Take a close look at Humboldt Penguin and rockhopper penguins on display at Tokyo Sea Life Park. They communicate with each other by making calls. Penguins can communicate with their offspring, males and females, and other members of their group through calls and displays.
There are various studies on penguin communication. Let me recommend one reference book: "What Penguins Tell Us: A Study of Their Behavior and Evolution" by Pierre Eurasian Moorhen, published by Dobutsu-sha, priced at 2,200 yen.

We've received other questions as well, but we'll answer them next time!

[Tokyo Sea Life Park @ King George Island]

(February 15, 2002)

◎Previous "Antarctic Reports" (Added March 1, 2002)
[1] Just before departure -- I'm going to collect and conduct research in the Antarctic Circle. (February 1, 2002)
[2] The night before the Antarctic expedition—from Narita to Santiago, and then arrival in Punta Arenas (February 8, 2002)
[3] Arrival in Antarctica! -- From Punta Arenas to King George Island (February 15, 2002)
[4] Collection completed ── Ready for shipping! (February 22, 2002)
[5] Final Episode - Collected Specimens Arrive Safely (March 1, 2002)