Hopefully, the cores we are collecting will help us to determine when and how fast the ice sheet retreated from the continental shelf. There are no land vertebrates in Antarctica. Even the penguins, seals, and birds that are found around the coast are technically considered marine animals because they depend on the sea for their food. There are, however, a few living organisms that can be found on the continent itself. There are also several other types of insects that can be found, which include springtails and tiny mites.
Most Antarctic insects live under rocks and stones in the soil and among lichens.
Springtails are especially common around penguin colonies. They are black and shiny, and they jump around. In Antarctica, there are very few different species of insect. Of course, there are lots of birds around the coast of Antarctica and over the Southern Ocean. We have seen a lot of Antarctic petrels and Snow petrels while on the ship.