The expedition begins aboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer, a 300-foot research ship which will sail from Punta Arenas, Chile, to Palmer Station, crossing one of the wildest stretches of ocean on the planet. Among the species the scientists may encounter are penguins, elephant seals and killer whales. And of course, there will be ice.

• Detectives in Antarctica

• Map showing the expedition study sites along the Antarctic Peninsula. Penguin population centers are where sampling will be most intensive - they are noted in red. Pie charts show penguin diet information where it is available. Note the increased importance of silverfish in penguin diets as you move south along the peninsula. Oceanic circulation along the peninsula continental shelf is depicted by the bold arrows. Gyral circulation (bold arrows and red dashed lines) is believed to play a role in retaining both krill and fish larvae in circumscribed areas along the Antarctic Peninsula. The team will be sampling in regions not previously studied at the northern and southern ends of the expedition track.