New ocean robot gets named by fans
By Alex Wilson 08/27/2009
A new high-tech underwater robot that will help scientists conduct research around the Channel Islands will soon have a new name once results of an Internet vote are tallied.
The device known as a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, is owned by the Nature Conservancy, which also controls most of Santa Cruz Island. It replaces an older ROV they’ve been using, and is currently undergoing tests.
Voters are choosing its name, and the five choices range from a movie star fish to a famous environmentalist and a funny song with an underwater theme.
The lead scientist for the Nature Conservancy’s California Coastal and Marine Program, Mary Gleason, says it will provide close-up views of the bottom of the ocean, in areas often beyond the depths scuba divers can reach.
“Essentially, it’s an underwater robot that just flies above the sea floor and has video and still cameras so you can photograph marine life and habitats. It’s tethered to a ship, and it transmits all the data up to the computers on board the ship,” says Gleason
They’ll use the ROV to monitor areas where fishing is restricted to see the results over time. “One of the key things we’re using it for is to work in partnership with the state Department of Fish and Game to do monitoring of the Channel Islands Marine Protected Areas,” says Gleason.
An area of future research involves collaboration with the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, academic partners and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration focusing on the area off the central coast. “It’s really a first-of-its-kind study to really look at the impacts of bottom trawling and the recovery of the sea floor habitat over time by using this deep-water technology,” says Gleason.
The $400,000 robot system was donated to the conservation group, through help from the California Ocean Protection Council and the California Coastal Conservancy, to promote applied research in the ocean.
Nature Conservancy scientists will sail on ships owned by NOAA, as well as local fishing boats. “Another exciting partnership is with local fishermen in doing collaborative research, and using some local fishing vessels that are set up to handle this kind of equipment,” says Gleason.
The five nominees in the naming contest include Beagle after Charles Darwin’s historic vessel; Rachel Carson for the influential biologist; and Nemo for the celebrity cartoon tropical fish.
Another nominee, Petrale Patrol, refers to a type of flatfish commonly found on ocean floors, which the robot will surely see lots of.
My personal favorite is Rock Lobster, which brings an infectiously catchy tune to mind whenever I think of it.
Entries in the naming contest will be accepted through the Nature Conservancy’s Internet Web site through midnight, Aug. 31. The address is www.nature.org, and people can navigate to the voting page by searching ROV. The results will be announced on Sept. 25.
Gleason says the naming contest is a fun way to get the public involved in the Nature Conservancy’s contributions to science.
“It’s really to try and bring some attention to this kind of exciting and innovative research in deep-water habitats and get people excited about the use of new technology to explore our underwater realms,” says Gleason, “and to help people understand that the Nature Conservancy is actively involved in marine conservation, and protecting sea floor habitats and marine systems, and just to get people excited in marine science in general.”
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