The ocean’s midwaters comprise the largest living space on Earth and within this vast habitat are the planet’s largest and least known major animal communities. At MBARI, midwater research and ROV technology have evolved in tandem and as the technology matured, the scope, scale, and complexity of the research has also advanced, particularly in such areas as observing animal behavior and in situ experimentation, which were virtually impossible before scientists gained direct access to this environment.⠀ ⠀ Atolla wyvillei, a wide-ranging gelatinous predator is the next target for the midwater ecology group's in situ respiration studies with the midwater respirometry system. By studying an animal’s respiration (how much oxygen it consumes), scientists can better understand how much energy (food) it needs to live. The rate at which an animal expends energy is called its “metabolic rate.” “If you want to understand how an organism is consuming and utilizing energy to live its life, its metabolic rate is a vital measurement to have,” said Bruce Robison, an MBARI marine biologist. Learn more in our 2017 Annual Report (link in bio). ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #jellies #gelatinousanimals #Plankton #midwater #Atolla #jellyfish #MBARI #MBARI2017AR #AnnualReport #MBARIAnnualReport #AUV #ROV #marinetechnology #ocean #oceanscience #STEM #oceanengineering #engineering #ship #researchvessel #expedition #oceanography #Marinebiology #tech⠀