Episode 601: Living Fossils

In the deep, dark waters off the coast of Roatan, Honduras, strange flowerlike animals flourish. These sea lilies and feather stars, known as crinoids, have been around in various forms since before the age of dinosaurs. Experts from Nova Southeastern University and the University of Michigan are working together to gather basic information about the life history of crinoids, such as how long they live and how fast they grow. To gain access to the animals, they brave the ocean depths onboard “Idabel”, a submersible based in Roatan’s West End. Sub builder and pilot Karl Stanley has extensive knowledge of the areas he can access with “Idabel,” making it possible for the scientists to return to the same spots year after year to study the animals. This ability to study crinoids over an extended time period will result in new knowledge about these mysterious animals that flourish far removed from our human world.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

Changing Seas

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The submersible Idabel stays at this dock when not exploring the deep sea around Roatan.

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Videographer Allan Farrell getting the shot.

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Videographer Allan Farrell getting a shot of the scientists in the sub, while Sean Hickey records sound and submersible pilot Karl Stanley looks on.

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Submersible owner and pilot Karl Stanley making some final tweaks before it’s time for a dive.

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Submersible Idabel at the dock.

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Videographer Sean Hickey is excited to film the research conducted in the deep sea.

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Professor Charles Messing, Ph.D. and Videographer Sean Hickey are ready for their dive.

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Pilot Karl Stanley motoring Idabel away from the dock.

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Pilot Karl Stanley motors to deeper water, where he will close the hatch before the submersible descends.

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Once the sub reaches a certain depth, the passengers get a first glimpse of what looks like a moonscape – the bottom of the deep sea.

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A depth gauge in the passenger compartment allows the scientists to see how deep they are.

Charles Messing

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The scientists study the blue/gray fist-like crinoids called Holopus that are growing on the rock.

Charles Messing

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Producer Alexa Elliott looks out in awe at the deep sea unfolding before her.

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Charles Messing, Ph.D. is examining the wall looking for crinoids.

Charles Messing

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This sea fan is host to a squat lobster feeding on a planktonic sea squirt surrounded by snakestars.

Charles Messing

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Sea lilies are animals, despite their flowerlike appearance.

Charles Messing

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Two Holopus attached to rocks.

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The submersible “Idabel” descending to the depths of the ocean.

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Videographer Sean Hickey approaches “Idabel” for some footage.

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Videographer Sean Hickey grabs a few last shots of “Idabel” before she descends beyond scuba diving limits.

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Videographer Sean Hickey films “Idabel” in shallow depths at night to create the illusion of seeing the sub in the dark, deep sea, where it wouldn’t be save for scuba divers to go.

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Videographer Sean Hickey and Allan Farrell capture footage of the scientists during one of their pre-dive briefings.

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Videographers Allan Farrell (left) and Sean Hickey (right) taking a break from filming the local sights.

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Dr. Charles Messing is preserving a specimen for future DNA analysis.

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A Holopus specimen collected at depth.

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Boats docked on the beach in the West End of Roatan.

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Roatan, Honduras is a popular dive destination.

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Videographer Sean Hickey films Karl Stanley’s first submersible, which now serves as a home for fish in the bay.

Special Thanks:

Cocolobo at Seagrape Plantation
West End, Roatan, Honduras
+(504) 9898-4510

Tranquilseas Eco Lodge
and Dive Center
Carretera Principal, Sandy Bay 33166
Roatan, Honduras
+(504) 2407-2070

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Tomasz Baumiller

David Bowden/ LINZ-NIWA

Julia Margaret Cameron

Detroit Publishing Company

Forest Gahn

Freshwater and Marine Image Bank

William Herdman

Geo Hirst
S.C. Services
Las Vegas, Nevada

Joseph Koniecki

Library of Congress

Charles Messing

William Frederick Mitchell

Ken Moehn

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

National Library of Medicine

NOAA-OER

Oslo Museum image no. OB.F03334D

Michael Sars

Karl Stanley

Wikipedia author: Ghedoghedo

H. Zell