AA.VV
This publication summarizes the documentary work of a large group of Spanish and Foreign researches studying taxonomy and biology of sea bed during several years, under the protection of Bentart projects and campaigns. Authors intend to immerse the reader on the knowledge of invertebrate fauna inhabiting sea bed of West Antarctica, the working area for Bentart project. The story dates back to 1986, when the project coordinator took part in the Antarctica-8611 campaign. but it was not until southern summer of 1994 that dreams of carrying out a spanish Antarctic campaing to study the benthos came true. The working area was focused on Bransfield Strait and Livingston and Deception Islands. This campaign was followed by three more in the years 1995, 2003 and 2006; the two last ones in the far-off and lonely Bellingshausen Sea. The text is accompanied by many surprising photographies illustrating both the spectacular Antarctic landscapes and the diverse fauna inhabiting sea bed. It is completed with the documentary Antártida: La vida en el límite (Antarctica: Life at the limit), awarded in different science and nature documentary competitions. It shows the development of Bentart campaigns in the Austral Ocean. "Knowing our planet is essential to preserve it. Exploring the remaining virgin places is one of the greatest challenges for humankind. Antarctica is the last one, the most inhospitable and dangerous place to be discovered". These words are the beginning for the documentary by José A. Moya ùtitled, like the book, Antártida: La vida en el límite (Antarctica: Life at the limit)ù, which sums up perfectly the intention of Ana Ramos when she started the Bentart campaigns: the story and main results are shown in this work. The documentary and the book in tandem are essential to understand the effort of a group of experienced scientists with just a few financial resources but willing to get involved in an exceptional adventure .
