{{short description|Pressurized recovery device designed for retrieving deep-sea marine life}} The '''PERISCOP''' is a pressurized recovery device designed for retrieving deep-sea marine life at depths exceeding 2,000 metres.<ref name=dsr>{{cite journal|last=Shillito |first=B |author2=Hamel |author3=Duchi |author4=Cottin |author5=Sarrazin |author6=Sarradin |author7=Ravaux |author8=Gaill |title=Live capture of megafauna from 2300m depth, using a newly designed Pressurized Recovery Device|journal=Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers|date=1 July 2008|volume=55|issue=7|pages=881–889|doi=10.1016/j.dsr.2008.03.010|bibcode=2008DSRI...55..881S |url=http://www.ifremer.fr/momarsat2010/biblio/Shillitoetal_2008.pdf|accessdate=18 February 2011}}</ref>{{rp|881}} The device was designed by Bruce Shillito and Gerard Hamel at the Universite Pierre et Marie Curie.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|last=Lever|first=Anna-Marie|title=Live fish caught at record depth|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7525552.stm|accessdate=18 February 2011|newspaper=BBC News|date=31 July 2008}}</ref> The name is an acronym for the French phrase ''Projet d’Enceinte de Remontée Isobare Servant la Capture d’Organismes Profonds'' ("Enclosure project for isobaric ascent serving to capture deep organisms").<ref name=dsr />
==History== [[Image:Pachycara sp.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''Pachycara'' species retrieved by the PERISCOP]]The PERISCOP is a unique pressurized recovery device that contains three chambers – one for capture, one for recovery under exterior pressure, and one for transfer to the laboratory while maintaining pressure. Previous recovery devices used one chamber for all purposes.<ref name=dsr/>{{rp|882}} An arm designed to capture samples by force of suction is attached to the device.<ref name=bbc/> During ascent, pressure is maintained within the chamber by use of pressurized water.<ref name=dsr/>{{rp|883}} Upon surfacing, samples can be observed, filmed, and/or photographed through transparent view ports in the device.<ref name=dsr/>{{rp|884}} Due to fluctuations in atmospheric pressure and temperature recorded pressures during ascent and at the surface may ranged from 74%-111% of the natural pressure at sea depth.<ref name=dsr/>{{rp|884}} The device set a record for the deepest live-fish capture under pressure when it captured a ''Pachycara'' at 2,300 m.<ref name=dsr/>{{rp|887}} The previous record was 1,400 m.<ref name=bbc/> The capture was the first to be performed at a hydrothermal vent.<ref name=dsr/>{{rp|886}}<ref name=bbc/> The device has also recovered several shrimp species (''Mirocaris fortunata'', ''Chorocaris chacei'', and ''Rimicaris exoculata'') at vent fields Lucky Strike and Rainbow.<ref name=bbc/>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Deep sea fish Category:Marine organisms Category:Oceanography Category:Research methods