ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Tierney Thys - Marine biologist
Tierney Thys is a marine biologist and science educator. She studies the behavior of the Mola mola, or giant ocean sunfish -- and works with other scientists to make films that share the wonders they see.

Why you should listen

Marine biologist Tierney Thys has fallen head over heels for a big, goofy fish: the Mola mola, or giant ocean sunfish. In studying the mola -- where they go, what they eat, what eats them -- she's also hunting for clues to the behavior of all life in the open ocean. With their enormous, odd bodies, peaceful habits and lust for jellyfish, these giants can be key to understanding life in the open ocean. Thys and her team are tagging and tracking molas worldwide to learn about how they live, and how climate change may be affecting all ocean life.

Thys is a National Geographic Explorer with a passion for marine education. She was also past director of research at the Sea Studios Foundation, a team of scientists and filmmakers that makes media to raise awareness of environmental issues -- including the PBS series Strange Days on Planet Earth and targeted videos that influence policymakers and businesspeople. Sea Studios was also instrumental in helping eBay stop the trading of invasive species.

More profile about the speaker
Tierney Thys | Speaker | TED.com
Plankton Chronicles Project - Scientific research team
The Plankton Chronicles Project uses state-of-the-art optics to reveal the beauty and diversity of planktonic organisms. It was initiated by Christian Sardet, Noé Sardet and Sharif Mirshak.

Why you should listen

The Plankton Chronicles Project combines art and science, revealing the beauty and diversity of planktonic organisms. Plankton samples are collected and filmed at the Villefranche-sur-Mer Marine Station and on board the schooner Tara using dark field optics and macro lenses or microscopes equipped with HD SLR cameras. Christian Sardet from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Noé Sardet and Sharif Mirshak from Parafilms (Montreal) initiated the project in the context of the Tara Oceans expedition.

Plankton Chronicles are sponsored by the CNRS, the Pierre et Marie Curie University in Paris (UPMC) and the Groupement d'Interet Scientifique IBISA.

More profile about the speaker
Plankton Chronicles Project | Speaker | TED.com
TED-Ed

Tierney Thys and Plankton Chronicles Project: The secret life of plankton

Tierney Thys + Plankton Chronicles Project: The secret life of plankton

Filmed:
1,440,282 views

New videography techniques have opened up the oceans' microscopic ecosystem, revealing it to be both mesmerizingly beautiful and astoundingly complex. Explore this hidden world that underpins our own food chain -- in the first-ever TEDTalk given by a fish ...
- Marine biologist
Tierney Thys is a marine biologist and science educator. She studies the behavior of the Mola mola, or giant ocean sunfish -- and works with other scientists to make films that share the wonders they see. Full bio - Scientific research team
The Plankton Chronicles Project uses state-of-the-art optics to reveal the beauty and diversity of planktonic organisms. It was initiated by Christian Sardet, Noé Sardet and Sharif Mirshak. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:30
[StoriesHistórias from the SeaMar]
0
17000
2976
[Histórias do Mar]
00:34
[FishPeixe TaleConto
My SecretSegredo Life as PlanktonPlâncton]
1
21198
4976
[Conto de um Peixe]
[A Minha Vida Secreta entre o Plâncton]
00:42
How did I get here?
2
29496
1318
Como é que vim aqui parar?
00:45
Well, it's a strangerdesconhecido storyhistória
than you mightpoderia think.
3
32506
3051
Bem, é uma história mais estranha
do que possam imaginar.
00:50
I cameveio from a worldmundo of driftersderivadores,
4
37028
3255
Vim de um mundo à deriva,
00:53
a placeLugar, colocar fewpoucos humanshumanos have ever seenvisto.
5
40307
2579
um lugar que poucos humanos já viram.
00:56
The worldmundo of planktonplâncton.
6
43979
1606
O mundo do plâncton.
01:00
I cameveio from a batchlote of a millionmilhão eggsovos,
and only a fewpoucos of us survivedsobreviveu.
7
47491
4667
Vim de um lote de milhões de ovos
e apenas alguns de nós sobreviveram.
01:08
When I becamepassou a ser a larvalarva,
I movedse mudou amongentre other driftersderivadores.
8
55092
3640
Quando me tornei uma larva
movia-me entre outros à deriva.
01:12
["PlanktonPlâncton" comesvem from the GreekGrego
"planktosPlanktos" for wanderingvagando]
9
59472
4653
O plâncton vem da palavra grega "planktos"
que significa "errante".
01:21
My fellowcompanheiro planktonplâncton cameveio in all sizestamanhos,
from tinyminúsculo algaealgas and bacteriabactérias
10
68138
5191
No plâncton, há companheiros meus
de todos os tamanhos,
desde as minúsculas algas e bactérias
01:26
to animalsanimais longermais longo than a blueazul whalebaleia.
11
73353
2490
a animais mais longos que a baleia azul.
01:33
I sharedcompartilhado my nurseryberçário
with other embryosembriões and juvenilesjuvenis,
12
80781
4593
Partilhei o meu jardim de infância
com outros embriões e juvenis,
01:38
from clamsamêijoas and crabscaranguejos
to seamar urchinsouriços-do- and anemonesanêmonas.
13
85398
3966
desde amêijoas e caranguejos
a ouriços-do-mar e anémonas.
01:45
(HighAlta pitchpitch soundsom)
14
92445
1300
01:46
We driftingà deriva animalsanimais
are calledchamado zooplanktonzooplâncton.
15
93769
3271
Nós, os animais flutuantes,
somos chamados de zooplâncton.
01:51
The mosta maioria commoncomum animalsanimais here
are copepodscopépodes and krillKrill.
16
98567
4478
Os animais mais comuns aqui
são os copépodes e o "krill".
01:56
(BuzzingZumbindo)
17
103069
1000
01:59
You could searchpesquisa the worldmundo over,
18
106332
1967
Podem procurar pelo mundo inteiro
02:01
but you'dvocê gostaria never find a placeLugar, colocar
more diversediverso than my childhoodinfância home.
19
108323
3767
mas nunca encontrarão um sítio
com mais diversidade
do que o lar da minha infância.
02:06
A teaspooncolher de chá of seawaterágua do mar
20
113905
1978
Uma colher de chá de água do mar
02:08
can containconter more
than a millionmilhão livingvivo creaturescriaturas.
21
115907
2864
pode conter mais de um milhão
de criaturas vivas.
02:14
It can be a prettybonita toughresistente
existenceexistência, thoughApesar.
22
121920
2994
Apesar disso, pode ser
uma experiência bastante dura,
02:17
TrillionsTrilhões are bornnascermos here,
but only a fewpoucos make it to adulthoodidade adulta.
23
124938
4142
Nascem aqui biliões
mas apenas alguns chegam à vida adulta.
02:27
He maypode be no largermaior than a pinPIN headcabeça,
24
134048
2589
Pode não ser maior
do que a cabeça de um alfinete
02:29
but this crabcaranguejo larvalarva
is an arrowflecha worm'sdo verme worstpior nightmarepesadelo.
25
136661
3856
mas esta larva de caranguejo
é o pior pesadelo de um quetognata.
02:35
(BumpingBatendo noisesruídos)
26
142229
2751
02:45
(BuzzingZumbindo)
27
152332
1301
02:48
EpicÉpico battlesbatalhas betweenentre carnivorescarnívoros
like these are just one way to get foodComida.
28
155831
4603
Batalhas épicas
entre carnívoros como estes
são apenas uma maneira de arranjar comida.
02:54
But the realreal powerspoderes
of this placeLugar, colocar come from phytoplanktonfitoplâncton.
29
161754
4260
Mas os verdadeiros poderes deste lugar
vêm do fitoplâncton:
vida unicelular
03:00
Single-celledUnicelular life
30
167361
1206
03:01
that transformstransforma sunlightluz solar
and carboncarbono dioxidedióxido
31
168591
2783
que transforma a luz do sol
e o dióxido de carbono
03:04
into ediblecomestíveis goldouro.
32
171398
1462
num tesouro comestível.
03:13
PhytoplanktonFitoplâncton are the basebase
for the largestmaiores foodComida webrede in the worldmundo.
33
180462
4146
O fitoplâncton é a base da maior
teia alimentar do mundo.
03:19
DuringDurante the night,
34
186983
1638
Durante a noite,
03:21
manymuitos animalsanimais like me
would risesubir up from the depthsprofundidades
35
188645
2592
muitos animais, como eu,
saem das profundezas
03:24
to feedalimentação on this sun-poweredsol-alimentado feastfesta.
36
191261
2875
para se virem alimentar deste banquete
derivado da energia solar.
03:28
(MaracaMaraca soundsom)
37
195056
1625
03:31
I was partparte of the largestmaiores dailydiariamente
migrationmigração of life on EarthTerra.
38
198830
3902
Eu fiz parte da maior migração diária
de vida na Terra.
03:38
DuringDurante the day,
39
205197
1563
Durante o dia,
03:39
I'd returnRetorna to the darknessTrevas,
where I'd joinJunte-se my bizarrebizarro companionscompanheiros.
40
206784
4143
eu voltava para a escuridão,
juntando-me aos meus bizarros
companheiros.
03:45
(HighAlta pitchpitch buzzzumbido)
41
212682
1523
03:47
(FlappingAgitar-se noisesruídos)
42
214229
1193
03:48
CannibalsCanibais, like this
seamar butterflyborboleta molluskmolusco,
43
215446
3114
Canibais, como esta borboleta-marinha,
03:51
that eatsCome its nextPróximo of kinKin.
44
218584
1677
que come a sua parentela.
03:57
And combpente jelliesgeleias,
45
224983
1638
E as carambolas-do-mar,
03:59
that beatbatida ciliacílios like rainbowedSebrango eyelashespestanas.
46
226645
3219
que batem os seus cílios como
pestanas multicoloridas.
04:08
Some of these snarelaço
theirdeles preypresa with stickypegajoso tentaclestentáculos,
47
235907
2845
Algumas delas aprisionam as suas presas
com tentáculos pegajosos
04:12
while othersoutras just take
a bitemordida out of theirdeles cousinsprimos.
48
239834
3358
enquanto outras se limitam
a umas trincadelas nos primos.
04:18
And siphonophoressifonóforos
49
245245
1484
E os sifonóforos,
04:19
that catchpegar preypresa with toxictóxico fishingpesca luresiscas.
50
246753
2588
que atraem as suas presas
com iscas tóxicas.
04:28
But my favoritefavorito would have
to be the crustaceancrustáceo PhronimaPhronima.
51
255246
3778
Mas o meu favorito tem de ser
o crustáceo Phronima.
04:33
Its monstrousmonstruoso looksparece inspiredinspirado
the moviefilme "AliensAlienígenas."
52
260276
3292
o seu aspeto monstruoso
inspirou o filme "Aliens".
04:38
It can catchpegar tinyminúsculo bitsbits in its bristlescerdas,
53
265215
2837
Consegue reter pequenas presas
nas suas cerdas,
04:41
but prefersprefere largermaior preypresa like salpstunicados.
54
268076
2689
mas prefere-as maiores, como as salpas.
04:47
With two setsconjuntos of eyesolhos,
this femalefêmea prowlsprofissionais the deeperDeeper wateragua.
55
274553
4430
Com dois pares de olhos, esta fêmea
patrulha as águas mais profundas.
04:54
PreyPresa in handmão,
56
281307
1807
Com uma presa na mão,
04:56
she performsexecuta one
of the strangestmuito estranho behaviorscomportamentos
57
283138
2658
ela executa um dos comportamentos
mais estranhos de todo o reino animal.
04:58
in the entireinteira animalanimal kingdomreino.
58
285820
1738
05:03
With bodycorpo partspartes from her victimsvítimas,
59
290908
2390
Com partes do corpo das suas vítimas,
05:06
she delicatelydelicadamente assemblesmonta
a barrel-likebarril-como home
60
293322
3592
constrói delicadamente
uma casa em forma de barril
05:09
feedingalimentação her youngjovem untilaté they can driftderiva off
and survivesobreviver on theirdeles ownpróprio.
61
296938
3713
e ali alimenta as suas crias
até que estas possam
ficar à deriva e sobreviver sozinhas
05:17
BestMelhor of all, they make the perfectperfeito
snacklanche for a smallpequeno fishpeixe like me.
62
304722
5139
O melhor de tudo é que constituem
o petisco perfeito
para um pequeno peixe como eu.
05:25
Here amongentre the planktonplâncton,
63
312785
2037
Aqui, entre o plâncton,
05:27
the foodComida webrede is so tangledemaranhada and complexcomplexo,
64
314846
3575
a teia alimentar
é tão emaranhada e complexa,
05:31
even scientistscientistas don't know who eatsCome whomo qual.
65
318445
2984
que nem os cientistas sabem
quem é que come quem.
05:36
But I do.
66
323900
1333
Mas eu sei.
05:41
At leastpelo menos now you know a bitpouco of my storyhistória.
67
328938
2856
Pelo menos, agora sabem
um bocadinho da minha história.
05:45
There's so much more to me
than just a tastysaborosa mealrefeição.
68
332784
3133
Sou muito mais do que apenas
uma refeição saborosa.
Translated by Rafael Galupa
Reviewed by Isabel M. Vaz Belchior

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Tierney Thys - Marine biologist
Tierney Thys is a marine biologist and science educator. She studies the behavior of the Mola mola, or giant ocean sunfish -- and works with other scientists to make films that share the wonders they see.

Why you should listen

Marine biologist Tierney Thys has fallen head over heels for a big, goofy fish: the Mola mola, or giant ocean sunfish. In studying the mola -- where they go, what they eat, what eats them -- she's also hunting for clues to the behavior of all life in the open ocean. With their enormous, odd bodies, peaceful habits and lust for jellyfish, these giants can be key to understanding life in the open ocean. Thys and her team are tagging and tracking molas worldwide to learn about how they live, and how climate change may be affecting all ocean life.

Thys is a National Geographic Explorer with a passion for marine education. She was also past director of research at the Sea Studios Foundation, a team of scientists and filmmakers that makes media to raise awareness of environmental issues -- including the PBS series Strange Days on Planet Earth and targeted videos that influence policymakers and businesspeople. Sea Studios was also instrumental in helping eBay stop the trading of invasive species.

More profile about the speaker
Tierney Thys | Speaker | TED.com
Plankton Chronicles Project - Scientific research team
The Plankton Chronicles Project uses state-of-the-art optics to reveal the beauty and diversity of planktonic organisms. It was initiated by Christian Sardet, Noé Sardet and Sharif Mirshak.

Why you should listen

The Plankton Chronicles Project combines art and science, revealing the beauty and diversity of planktonic organisms. Plankton samples are collected and filmed at the Villefranche-sur-Mer Marine Station and on board the schooner Tara using dark field optics and macro lenses or microscopes equipped with HD SLR cameras. Christian Sardet from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Noé Sardet and Sharif Mirshak from Parafilms (Montreal) initiated the project in the context of the Tara Oceans expedition.

Plankton Chronicles are sponsored by the CNRS, the Pierre et Marie Curie University in Paris (UPMC) and the Groupement d'Interet Scientifique IBISA.

More profile about the speaker
Plankton Chronicles Project | Speaker | TED.com