Biology

Light is crucial to the creatures that live on the ocean floor around Antarctica, but they have to get by without it for several weeks. NIWA marine ecologist Vonda Cummings explains how. Video, Audio

New Zealand and Italian researchers have confirmed that Type C killer whales from Antarctica travel to and from northern New Zealand Audio, Gallery

Scientists discover that Antarctica and the Southern Ocean harbour a surprisingly rich and expansive biological diversity. Audio

After six weeks in the Southern Ocean, scientists return with thousands of blue whale call recordings and hundreds of samples. Audio

A team of scientists drilling through thick Antarctic ice were surprised to discover fish surviving more than 500 km from open ocean Audio

New Zealand and Australian scientists head off on a six-week voyage to Antarctica to study top predators in the Southern Ocean. Audio

Antarctic sea ice is home to a great diversity of microbes and algae living in and under the ice Audio

Very little is known about Antarctica's fish leeches, including whether they use antifreeze to survive subzero temperatures Audio

Each summer Adelie penguins in the Ross Sea are counted using aerial photography as part of a long-term study Audio

Alison Ballance talks with Antarctic veteran Gerald Kooyman about 30 years of research on Emperor penguins Audio

Evolutionary biologists ask why a high evolution rate in Adelie penguins results in few, if any, morphological changes. Audio

Research zoologist Kerry Barton spends her summers at one of the noisiest penguin colonies in Antarctica. Audio

Dean Williams discusses survival techniques and antifreeze in Antarctic fish with Auckland University's Clive Evans. Audio

A team of Massey University scientists reports that giant icebergs have promoted micro-evolution in Adelie penguins. Audio

David Lambert has managed to extract ancient DNA from frozen snow petrel vomit as part of his evolutionary studies. Audio