All articles tagged with #methane seeps
A UiT-led expedition in the Barents Sea found Borealis Mud Volcano, a 300-meter-wide crater about 25 meters deep formed after late Ice Age methane blowouts. The site, ~400 meters below sea level and ~70 miles south of Bear Island, hosts an active mud-methane vent and a rich chemosynthetic ecosystem, offering insights into methane cycling, ancient geologic processes, and biodiversity, underscoring the need for protection.
A new species of sea worm, Pectinereis strickrotti, was discovered off Costa Rica's coast, notable for its graceful, floating movement resembling a magic carpet, highlighting the rich biodiversity of deep-sea methane seeps and the ongoing exploration of these extreme environments.
A new species of underwater worm, Pectinereis strickrotti, has been discovered in the methane seeps off the coast of Costa Rica, highlighting the limited understanding of Earth’s oceans. Led by marine biologist Greg Rouse, the discovery underscores the need for more research and conservation efforts in these remote regions of our planet, as only five percent of the planet’s oceans have been explored and 10 percent of its life cataloged. The unique worm, blind and residing in the bathypelagic darkness, adds to our knowledge of deep-sea biodiversity, alongside other fascinating underwater worm species like the Squidworm and Ramisyllis multicaudata.