All articles tagged with #deep sea biodiversity
Researchers aboard the R/V Falkor used environmental DNA (eDNA) to sample Cape Range and Cloates submarine canyons off Western Australia, detecting Architeuthis dux DNA and identifying 226 species across 11 groups at depths over 4 kilometers—many DNA signals don’t match known species—revealing vast, previously hidden deep-sea biodiversity.
Using environmental DNA from 1,700 liters of seawater off Western Australia, researchers detected 226 species and the giant squid Architeuthis dux—the first WA eDNA record and northernmost in the eastern Indian Ocean—along with many DNA sequences not matching known species, highlighting vast, still-hidden deep-sea biodiversity.
Scientists identify 24 new deep-sea species and a new superfamily in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, underscoring how a regulatory gap and NOAA’s fast-tracked mining permits could threaten unknown life as commercial extraction expands; naming these species provides them a “passport for living” in scientific discourse, but most CCZ species remain unnamed, complicating policy decisions amid observed environmental costs from early mining tests.
A Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition off Argentina found unexpectedly rich deep-sea biodiversity beyond a single seep, identifying 28 potential new species around a vast Bathelia candida coral reef and capturing rare sightings such as the phantom jellyfish and Argentina’s first deep-sea whale fall.
An Argentine deep-sea expedition using the ROV SuBastian off the coast from Buenos Aires to Tierra del Fuego documented a vast Bathelia candida coral reef extending hundreds of kilometres, a whale fall at depths around 3,000–3,900 metres, 28 new species, and the rare giant phantom jelly Stygiomedusa gigantea with tentacles up to 10 metres. The team also observed bubblegum coral gardens and other deep-sea life, highlighting rich biodiversity and the vulnerability of these habitats while collecting samples to inform future research on ecosystem connections in Argentinian waters.
Researchers have discovered whimsical new marine life, including a bright pink 'Barbie pig' sea cucumber, near the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the deep sea, which is targeted for seabed mining due to its rich metal reserves. The project aims to develop an ecological census of the region to assess potential impacts of mining activities. The discovery of these new species, such as the 'unicumber' sea pig and the 'Rattail fish,' highlights the need for further research to understand the unique and sparse ecosystem of the CCZ.
Deep, an ocean technology and exploration company, is developing subsea habitats that will allow a permanent human presence underwater. In 2026, a crew of six fully trained aquanauts will be deployed to their newly unveiled Sentinel oceanic habitat system, enabling them to live at depths of up to 200m for up to 28 days at a time. This revolutionary technology aims to revolutionize the way scientists observe, monitor, and understand the oceans, similar to the achievements made in outer space. The subsea habitats will be made from materials used in space rockets and will be self-sufficient, powered by renewable energy. The goal is to explore the last frontier of the ocean before its secrets are lost forever.