A survey of Antarctica's continental shelf, carried out by researchers from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), has revealed a rich mix of weird and wonderful organisms, like this soft coral that still needs to be identified by experts.
Sea cucumbers, also known as "sea pigs", were one of the most abundant animals recorded by the survey. The animals play a key role in processing the sediment. The worldwide population is threatened by expanding fisheries.
Comb jellies, like this species of Mnemiopsis, are a frequent find in the surface waters of the Southern Ocean. It is suggested that they will benefit from an increase in carbon dioxide levels.
Octopuses were another creature regularly recorded by the survey, which aims to improve the scientific understanding of how the marine ecosystem will adapt to change.
Excessive growth, known as gigantism - caused by high levels of oxygen in polar waters - was first demonstrated in amphipods, such as this sand hopper. They take on the role normally carried out by crabs, which are virtually absent from Antarctic waters.
Images, like this one of a scale worm, were captured by BAS photographer Peter Bucktrout. The survey in the shallow waters around the Antarctic Peninsula showed that some marine organisms were very sensitive to temperature change.
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