NEPTUNE Canada

This silent movie, compiled from video clips captured by the Tempo-mini camera, spans a 24-hr period on November 11, 2008 on the seafloor in Saanich Inlet. This camera captured 3 minutes of action every half hour over the period; each clip is sped up to create a sort of time-lapse movie. In the upper-right corner, a trace of pressure (in decibars) indicates tidal phase over the course of the day. Tempo-mini's oxygen sensor is the device at left.

At this 100m location, squat lobsters, soles, anemones (metridium), and sponges inhabit the seafloor, which is visited by a wide assortment of small fish, krill and plankton. An unusual visitor makes a brief appearance toward the end of the movie.

NOTE: if you have difficulties viewing this video, you can watch it on Google Video.

What changes do you notice over the period? Do tides or time-of-day influence animal concentrations and activities? Please share your observations!

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