Collaborations, Conservation and Communication

Giant isopods are crustaceans, like crabs and lobsters. There have been accounts of consumption of giant isopods in some locations, but this is uncommon and the commercial market remains small. Individuals are mostly derived from fishermen bycatches. There is still a lot that is not known about deep sea giant isopods, including the food safety of these creatures.

Aquatic Isopods breathe through specialized gill-like structures on their swimming legs (“pleopods”) at their abdomen. Isopods reproduce by laying eggs. The females develop a pouch known as the marsupium, where the eggs develop until they hatch. Isopods do not have a larval stage, and the young emerge from the marsupium almost fully formed with close resemblance to their adult forms. They are known as manca at this stage.

The change in pressure affected mainly fishes which had swim bladders or organs with air-filled cavities. This was physically displayed as enlargement and protrusion of swim bladders as well as bulging eyes, loss of scales and body parts. However, little damage was done to invertebrates such as molluscs and crustaceans due to their hard exterior covering (exoskeleton).

New species are discovered daily, adding up to several thousands that are formally described worldwide annually. The discovery of new species depends on a multitude of factors such as the type of organism and degree of exploration that has been done in a particular area. Some groups of lifeforms are easier to spot and more extensively studied, while others have only started gaining more attention from scientists in recent years (hence experiencing a higher rate of discovery). Exotic or remote locations with few past exploration efforts have a higher chance of uncovering new species as well. More than 10 species new to science were newly discovered during the SJADES expedition alone.

Yes, the method does cause some damage but is currently the most efficient way for benthic sampling of deep seas. Deep sea trawling involves dragging a net across the ocean floor which causes deep sea mud, sunken stones, wood and marine trash to be mixed with the catch. Abrasion against the hard objects picked up by the trawl or dredge as well as the change in pressure may distort or break body parts. However, most of the organisms do reach the boat in good condition with some even still alive.

Customize evaluation methods in line with your objectives (e.g. do you aim to stimulate action among your audience or simply raise awareness on a particular issue). Avoid relying on just self-reporting methods (e.g. surveys on what people think they have learnt). Quantitative approaches such as before-and-after-programme quizzes or rate of after-programme uptake of a particular activity/course over a specific timeline helps measure actual changes and maintain scientific rigor that is consistent with the research field that we are trying to communicate.

Some deep sea invertebrates such as the giant isopod are much larger than their close relatives living in shallower zones. This phenomenon is known as deep-sea gigantism, proposed to derive from increased cell sizes, delayed sexual maturity and increased life span due to decreased temperatures. These factors contribute to larger maximum body sizes. Another reason could be the lack of food, such that larger bodies are needed for better foraging of few and far in-between food.

Other organisms make use of bioluminescence, or have large eyes or mouths with sharp, fang-like teeth to search or grasp firmly onto prey in the pitch dark environment.

The published findings of our research staff are constantly updated and available to the public at the following link: https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/research/staff-publications/

You may also refer to the link below for more biodiversity-related publications in Singapore and South-east Asia: https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/publication/