 Price$150 |  Duration2 hours |  DeliveryOnline |  StartsAnytime |
About this course
Explore the world beneath Antarctica's waves and the interconnected marine life that sustains the Southern Ocean. From microscopic algae and microbes to krill, fish, squid and seafloor communities, the course examines the organisms, ecological relationships and natural processes that shape Antarctica's marine environment.
This comprehensive short course is part of the Antarctic Insights Course Series, an educational partnership between HX and the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS). The series brings peer-reviewed polar science to anyone with an interest in the far south, whether you are preparing for a voyage, remembering one, or simply curious. This course stands alone, so no prior HX | UTAS study is required.
The course is organised into ten parts. It covers how ocean circulation and sea ice influence habitats, how energy and nutrients move through the food web, how organisms survive in extreme polar conditions, and how ancient DNA preserved in marine sediments helps reconstruct past ecosystems. It closes by connecting these processes to the global carbon cycle and Earth's climate. Where a topic is covered in more depth elsewhere, you will be directed to the relevant companion course.
The course takes around two hours to complete. By taking this course, you are helping to fund the next generation of Antarctic researchers. A portion of your enrolment supports travel grants that enable researchers to reach departure ports, join HX expedition vessels and conduct new research, contributing to Antarctica's future as a continent for peace and science.
Course Structure
Discover how ocean circulation and sea ice shape the habitats of the Southern Ocean.
This part explores the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water, and how the Southern Ocean connects the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans to redistribute heat, carbon and nutrients. It also examines how sea ice supports life within, beneath and around the ice.
Meet the microscopic algae that form the foundation of the Antarctic marine food web.
This part introduces diatoms, dinoflagellates and haptophytes, and explains how seasonal blooms support marine life, produce oxygen and influence carbon storage. It also considers why iron availability can limit productivity in the Southern Ocean.
Learn how nutrients, minerals and dissolved gases move through the ocean, and why these cycles matter for ecosystems and climate.
This part explores how biological, chemical, geological and physical processes transform these substances. It explains how the biological pump, microbial loop and solubility pump move and store carbon.
Discover the roles that bacteria, viruses and marine fungi play in the Antarctic marine ecosystem.
This part explores the microbial loop and how microbes break down organic matter, recycle nutrients and move energy through the food web. It also considers how viruses and fungi influence phytoplankton blooms and carbon recycling.
Explore the zooplankton that connect microscopic producers with larger Antarctic animals.
This part introduces Antarctic krill, copepods, salps, pteropods and other groups, and explains how sea ice, food availability and vertical migration shape their lives. It also shows how zooplankton support fish, seabirds, seals and whales and contribute to carbon transport.
Meet the fish that transfer energy from zooplankton to penguins, seabirds, seals and whales.
This part covers the adaptations that allow Antarctic fish to survive extreme cold, including antifreeze proteins and the white-blooded icefish, and introduces silverfish, toothfish and lanternfish. It also considers the challenges of studying fish in remote, deep and ice-covered environments.
Meet the squid of the Southern Ocean and see why they are important as both predators and prey.
This part explores their anatomy, feeding strategies and adaptations to deep, dimly lit waters, including the colossal squid. It also shows how researchers use squid beaks, DNA analysis and rare deep-sea observations to learn more about them.
Explore the communities living on, in and around the Antarctic seabed.
This part examines how seasonal food supplies, sea ice and iceberg scouring shape seafloor habitats, from sponge gardens and bryozoan fields to seaweed forests. It also covers endemism, polar gigantism and the vulnerability of slow-growing species.
Learn how sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) helps scientists reconstruct past Antarctic marine ecosystems.
This part explains how genetic material preserved in seafloor sediment can reveal organisms that leave few or no fossils, and why Antarctica's cold, low-oxygen environment aids preservation. It also considers the challenges of authenticating ancient DNA.
Connect the processes explored throughout the course to Earth's carbon cycle.
This part explains how carbon moves between the atmosphere, oceans, living organisms, soils and sediments, and why the Southern Ocean is so important to the global carbon balance. It closes with how Antarctic ice cores reveal past carbon dioxide levels and the speed of the recent rise driven by human activity.
What you will learn
Learn how Antarctic marine ecosystems function, from the organisms that form the foundation of the food web to the fish, squid and seafloor communities that depend on it, and how the Southern Ocean contributes to the global carbon cycle.
You can work through the ten parts at your own pace, in one sitting or one part at a time. The course includes interviews with researchers, a glossary to help you understand specialist terminology, and a quiz that allows you to test your understanding. Completing the quiz with a score of 50% or higher makes you eligible for a Certificate of Completion, and you can attempt the quiz as many times as you like.
You can also combine this course with others in the Antarctic short course series to build your own bespoke Antarctic learning journey.
Interested in further study?
Expand your Antarctic knowledge with our Antarctic Insights Course Series.