The main group of the 2011 Weddell seal research team is now at the U.S. Antarctic base, McMurdo Station, and is ramping up preparations for deployment into the field. “The next week or so will be full with training (Happy Camper training for the new crew members!), logistics, obtaining gear and supplies, and setting up field camp,” notes field researcher Jesse DeVoe.

The field research team this season includes Principal Investigator Bob Garrott, Thierry Chambert, Jessica Farrer, Jesse DeVoe, Darren Roberts, Colleen Siudzinski, and Michael Yarnall.  I will be joining up with the team now in Antarctica in just a couple of days as field videographer.

Co-Principal Investigators for this Weddell seal research project are Bob Garrott and Jay Rotella, professors in the Ecology Department at Montana State University, and Don Siniff, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota.

Here’s a short video introducing the beautiful Weddell seals that are the subject of this project. This video screened a few weeks ago as an Official Selection at the 2011 San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition. Hope you enjoy the video!

– Mary Lynn Price