Matt Mulrennan

Matt Mulrennan

Nov 16, 2024

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Did we find the colossal squid? (Maybe!) And key findings from 4 Antarctic expeditions.

From your support an international research team traveled to Antarctica four times in December 2022 - March 2023 in an attempt to find and film the colossal squid, the largest invertebrate in the world in the deep sea for the first time. The research is a collaborative effort between a polar tourism vessel, underwater technologists, and marine biologists, who repeatedly deployed deep sea cameras into the Southern Ocean to try and uncover the biological mysteries of the colossal squid. The goal is to find and study the colossal squid by 2025, the hundred-year anniversary of the first discovery of the species. 

While the team did not yet film an adult colossal squid, they filmed a glass squid (10-12cm) that is under analysis as either; a small juvenile colossal squid, adult Galiteuthis glacialis, or undescribed species of Taonius. It has been confirmed three times as a glass squid by cephalopod experts published on these species.

2023 SEASON ACCOMPLISHMENTS

-4 expeditions, 58 days at sea

-36 survey locations from 20 meters to 400 meters (1300 ft) depths in the Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea, Shetland Islands, Antarctic Circle, and South Georgia Island

-62hrs of 4k underwater footage

-Research permits for three years from U.S. State Dept and EPA

-4-way unique research partnership - tourism vessel, technology provider, ocean non profit, and marine research university

-Deep-sea tech developed, installed, and successfully deployed repeatedly

FINDINGS

-Small glass squid filmed, which may be the first look at a small juvenile colossal squid, rarely seen adult Galiteuthis glacialis, or new species of Taonius - (under review)

-Antarctic sun stars - 'Death stars' - filmed grabbing fish from the water column. This is the second time ever witnessing after Jacques Cousteau in 1972. (manuscript on the ‘Death Star’ feeding behavior is in preparation)

-Distribution of giant volcano sponges, the oldest animal on the planet, which can reach 15,000 years old and 2 meters high - a person can fit in one.

-Found a potential shipwreck, ship mast, and human made parts at the Stromness Whaling Station at South Georgia Island

-80+ marine species identified, and counting

-Found multiple species of nototheniid fish, octopuses, crinoids, sponges, krill, tunicates, soft corals, siphonophores, jellies, sea stars, many species of invertebrates, and pockets of rich biodiversity on seafloor

-4 publications in preparation: accepted or pre-accepted

Glass squid are not rare in Antarctica, occurring in many animals’ diets like fish, seals, and birds, and show up in research trawls. But they are rarely filmed in their natural habitat, and the colossal squid in particular has never been filmed underwater, only brought to the surface in interactions with fisheries. 

Although our primary mission has been finding and studying the colossal squid, we also filmed an incredible amount of Antarctic biodiversity while doing surveys on the seafloor and in the midwater. Most of these species are endemic, meaning they are only found in Antarctic waters. We are submitting the footage to one or more research databases of Antarctic marine life, and analyzing the footage to check for species richness, population ranges, new observations and species discoveries.

The team found 80+ marine species: swimming crinoids, two meter high giant volcano sponges (the oldest living animal on our planet up to 15,000 years old), dragonfish, icefish, octopuses, glass squid, soft corals, sea cucumbers, hydroids, urchins, sea spiders (the biggest sea spiders in the world), flourishing reefs that resemble the tropics, and Antarctic sun stars ‘Death stars’ grabbing and killing multiple fish on the seafloor.

These expeditions have inspired marine biology grad students and engineers from Marine Institute and Auckland University of Technology who seek to return to Antarctica and search for the colossal squid in 2025 - the hundred year anniversary of the first discovery of the species. The ship time and permits are ready, but they are seeking funding to support the tech, travel, and insurance to make multiple Antarctic expeditions happen next year.

Small glass squid filmed in Paradise Harbour, Antarctica (-64.039162, -62.869273), which may be the first look at a small juvenile colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, rarely seen adult Galiteuthis glacialis, or new species of Taonius. (under review) © KOLOSSAL / MULRENNAN.

School of Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum

Giant volcano sponge Anoxycalyx joubini, with crinoids on the rim and a fish (nototheniid) inside, Giant volcano sponges are believed to be the oldest animals on the planet living up to 15,000 years old. This sponge was over 1.5 meters high. Imaged at Yankee Harbour.

Antarctic sunflower star also known as the "Death Star" Labadiaster annalutus. This one is hunting on top of a rock at Neko Harbour. The team also filmed a Death Star grabbing multiple fish, the second time this was filmed after Jacques Cousteau in 1972.

Giant Antarctic octopus Megaleledone setebos. The team imaged several octopuses.

Complex reef with soft corals, fish, sea stars, anemones and brittle stars.

Towed camera system deployed by Matt Mulrennan project lead - equipped with a Rayfin Camera developed by SubC Imaging in Newfoundland, Canada. This mount and tech was piloted during this project and it is now a commercial product sold by SubC Imaging.

Memorial University of Newfoundland's Marine Institute PhD student Jennifer Herbig operates the winch and camera system. All of the researchers were under 40 years old and majority female.

The collaborative team installed a deep sea research platform on an Antarctic tourism vessel - the MV Ocean Endeavour - operated by Intrepid Travel. By using a tourism vessel the researchers saved an estimated 417 kg of CO2 emissions per researcher per day.

King penguin colony at St. Andrews Bay in South Georgia Island. An estimated 450,000 penguins gather at the site to breed. Photo: Herbig.

Some notes we received from young explorers inspired by the colossal squid project. The expeditions also garnered 8M+ views on TikTok via one of the researchers - Eugenie Jacobsen.

Media:

Scientists went on a hunt for the elusive colossal squid — and brought cruise ship tourists with them. Business Insider. April 2024. A Baby Colossal Squid May Have Been Filmed for the First Time Ever. The Inertia. May 2024.  "Mystery" Glass Squid In Antarctica Could Be First-Ever Colossal Squid Baby Filmed. IFLS. May 2024.  Visiting the Kraken at home. Hakai Magazine. May 2024. 

The Tech Behind the Hunt for the Colossal Squid. Scripps Technical Forum. Webinar. 2023.

Publications:

Graham M, Herbig J, Jacobsen E, Maldonado KT, Beck J, Lackey B, et al. (2024) New methods of undertaking marine science in Antarctica using tourism vessels. PLOS Clim 3(2): e0000348. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000348

Mulrennan, M, Grahm, M, Herbig, J, Watson, S. (2024) Anchor and chain damage to seafloor habitats in Antarctica. Frontiers in Conservation Science - Global Biodiversity Threats (Under Review)

Predatory behavior of Antarctic ‘Death Star’ Labidiaster annulatus. (in prep)

Mysterious glass squid observation in Antarctica – Galiteuthis, Mesonychoteuthis or Taonius? (in prep)

1 comments

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  • Maureen Huelsenbeck
    Maureen Huelsenbeck Backer
    Great Article!! Congratulations and look forward to hearing about future explorations.
    Nov 19, 2024

About This Project

We are launching a multi-year expedition to film a colossal squid in the deep sea for the first time off Antarctica to learn about its basic biology/behavior. With deep sea cameras we are surveying for the colossal squid to answer key questions about the species such as; how large they grow, most preferred habitats, the use of its massive eye, how it exhibits bioluminescence, and its conservation status.

Blast off!

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