Conservation research in submarine caves is among the clearest and most compelling use-cases for a small observation-class ROV like Trident, which is why, last week, we delivered the very first ROV for Good Sofar Ocean Trident to Dr. Leocadio Blanco-Bercial at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences to study the hidden biodiversity in Bermuda’s Anchialine Caves.
Dr. Blanco-Bercial is a marine biologist who studies the diversity and evolution in invertebrates, especially those in marine cave ecosystems. Bermuda is home to a network of anchialine caves (caves connected to the sea through underwater passageways) which are home to a diverse array of rare and ancient arthropod lineages, many of which are unique to Bermuda. These species are under threat from land development and other human activities.
“From the science standpoint,” says Dr. Blanco-Bercial, “the Trident will give us independence from specialized divers availability, and will simplify the logistics associated with the sampling process – the Trident is easy to carry even by a single person – and sampling attachments and other gear is easily transportable by another colleague.”
"Utafiti wa uhifadhi katika mapango ya chini ya maji ni kati ya kesi za matumizi wazi na ya kuvutia zaidi kwa ROV ndogo ya uchunguzi kama Trident, ambayo ni kwa nini wiki iliyopita tulitoa ROV ya kwanza kwa Trident ya Bahari ya Good Sofar kwa Dk Leocadio Blanco-Bersio katika Taasisi ya Bermuda ya Sayansi ya Bahari kusoma ""biodiversity iliyofichwa"" katika mapango ya Anchialine ya Bermuda." Blanco-Bercial ni mwanabiolojia wa baharini ambaye hujifunza utofauti na mageuzi katika wanyama wasio na uti wa mgongo, hasa wale walio katika mifumo ya ikolojia ya mapango ya baharini. Bermuda ni nyumbani kwa mtandao wa mapango ya anchialine (mapango yaliyounganishwa na bahari kupitia njia za chini ya maji) ambayo ni nyumbani kwa safu tofauti ya nasaba za arthropods nadra na za kale, ambazo nyingi ni za kipekee kwa Bermuda. Spishi hizo ziko hatarini kwa sababu ya ujenzi wa ardhi na shughuli nyingine za kibinadamu. "Kutoka kwa mtazamo wa sayansi, ""Blanco-Bercial anasema, ""Trident itatupa uhuru kutoka kwa utafutaji wa wataalamu wa utafutaji, na itafanya rahisi vifaa vinavyohusiana na mchakato wa sampuli, Trident ni rahisi kubeba hata na mtu mmoja, na viambatisho vya sampuli na vifaa vingine vinaweza kusafirishwa kwa urahisi na mwenzake mwingine."""