Discoveries Of The Deep Sea

[Eliecer Brathwaite]

Inlieu of a specimen, the scientists used video of the animal captured during the expedition, the only evidence of its existence, to establish that it was indeed new to science. This marked the first time NOAA relied exclusively on video to designate a new genus and species.

At the beginning of the first dive of the 2016 Hohonu Moana expedition in the deep waters of Hawaii, we spotted a small, ghost-like octopod that had never been seen before. Observed at a depth of 4,290 meters (14,075 feet), this was also the deepest sighting of this type of octopod (incirrate octopod), to date.

While the primary purpose of the dive was to collect geological data, this animal stole the show. Our followers on social media were quick to note its resemblance to Casper the friendly cartoon ghost, so Casper it became, informally at least. Casper generated a lot of interest from traditional and social media, but until scientists are able to formally describe it, its story will remain largely untold.

Some discoveries build on each other over time to create an even more significant discovery. Although first detected and observed several decades ago, a deep-sea coral ecosystem on the Blake Plateau off the U.S. southeastern coast remained relatively unexplored and unknown, until recently.

These discoveries all resulted from NOAA Ocean Exploration-led expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. However, we depend on scientists (often taxonomists) to use the data we collect (samples, video, etc.) to determine the significance of a discovery and, when appropriate, to name and describe new species. NOAA Ocean Exploration also provides support, like grants, to other exploration activities that have also contributed to the growing catalog of marine animals. Among the other animals we have helped add to the taxonomic ranks are fish, corals, jellyfish, sponges, sea stars, shrimp, amphipods, snails, clams, and worms.

Deep-sea corals create habitat for countless species off of every coastal state in the country. They offer significant ecological value and support a number of U.S.-managed fishery species. These productive habitats provide spawning grounds for commercially important fish such as grouper, snapper, sea bass, and rockfish, as well as shrimp, and crab. The high biodiversity of deep-sea coral and sponge habitats has made them fertile ground for new species and new natural product discoveries.

NOAA significantly improved our understanding of deep-sea coral communities during the past two years. We supported large-scale underwater surveys of deep-sea coral communities throughout most regions of the country. As a result, NOAA and our partners:

The Program works with a variety of partners and leverages complementary areas of expertise and resources to pursue joint priorities. The shared vision and investment with partners enables us to advance the state of deep-sea science and better understand these complex ecosystems. By working with partners, we move beyond simply locating unknown deep-sea corals. We collaborate to better understand genetic identification, aging, damage and recovery assessment, population connectivity, and habitat prediction.

The Program and its partners are committed to continuing research activities that improve our understanding of deep-sea coral communities, and aid resource managers in developing and evaluating management options for these valuable habitats on which U.S. fisheries and communities depend.

The deep sea is an enigmatic, alien world. But every year, scientists make discoveries about the ocean's depths that help to fill in parts of the puzzle, and this year was no different. From gigantic seamounts and the deepest-dwelling fish to a mysterious golden orb and puzzling methane leaks, here are the 10 best deep-sea discoveries of 2023.

Heat waves near the ocean's surface, which are the result of human-caused climate change and oceanographic phenomena such as El Nio, have been documented for decades. But a computer model using surface temperatures and ocean currents showed that the seafloor is probably also experiencing what researchers refer to as "bottom marine heat waves."

Seafloor ecosystems are often populated by lobsters, scallops, flounder, cod and other commercially fished creatures, which means bottom marine heat waves could have serious financial implications as well as being ecologically destructive.

Researchers plucked the golden orb from a seamount around 10,825 feet (3,300 m) below the surface using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The mysterious object was around 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide and appeared to be attached to a rock. When it was pulled to the surface it lost most of its structure and "melted" into a gloopy pile.

The skates had laid countless rectangular-shaped eggs, known as mermaid's purses, on the seamount. Scientists estimated there could be anywhere from 100,000 to over a million eggs in the area. When these eggs hatch, the seamount likely provides an ideal habitat for the juveniles to grow before heading into the wider ocean.

The bubbles were also rising much higher than similar methane emissions across the globe. Normally, methane gets dissolved in deep waters and rarely travels more than a few hundred feet above the seafloor. But the gas rising from this area reached up to around 65 feet (20 m) below the ocean's surface, which is "completely new."

The unidentified species of snailfish, which likely belongs to the genus Pseudoliparis, was spotted by researchers controlling an ROV in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench near Japan at a depth of 27,349 feet (8,336 m), which is more than 500 feet (150 m) deeper than any fish have been seen before.

The immense pressure at this depth would crush most fish. But snailfish have replaced their scales with a gelatinous layer that helps absorb this pressure. The snailfish also contain special chemicals that protect them on a cellular level.

The reefs feature a rich diversity of stony coral species that have likely thrived there for thousands of years. They are home to lots of other creatures including crustaceans, anemones, brittle stars and urchins.

In a May study, researchers revealed that one of the most promising sites for future deep-sea mining activities is home to more than 5,000 newly identified animal species, which could all be in imminent danger if humans start mining the area.

The Clarion-Clipperton Zone is a large seafloor deformation that stretches from Mexico to Hawaii and covers around 2.3 million square miles (6 million square km), which is around 3.5 times the area of Alaska. It is covered in potato-size spherical nodules that are rich in highly desired metals such as manganese, cobalt and nickel, as well as small concentrations of extremely valuable rare earth elements.

Researchers analyzed more than 100,000 individual records collected from the area and estimated that 90% of the species they identified could be new to science. Deep-sea mining, which could begin properly in the next few years, could threaten all of these species.

The hydrothermal vents, which are located in the East Pacific Ridge near Central America, have been studied for more than 40 years. But for the first time, researchers looked beneath the vents by scraping away the ocean bottom sediment using the robotic arm of an ROV. In doing so, they discovered a wide diversity of sub-seafloor creatures including worms, snails and deep-dwelling octopuses.

Researchers used radar data from multiple satellites to complete the map. The satellites looked for tiny deviations in gravity created by the seamounts and were able to spot underwater mounds as small as 3,609 feet (1,100 m) tall.

Harry is a U.K.-based senior staff writer at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before training to become a journalist. He covers a wide range of topics including space exploration, planetary science, space weather, climate change, animal behavior, evolution and paleontology. His feature on the upcoming solar maximum was shortlisted in the \"top scoop\" category at the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Awards for Excellence in 2023. "}), " -0-10/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Harry BakerSocial Links NavigationSenior Staff WriterHarry is a U.K.-based senior staff writer at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before training to become a journalist. He covers a wide range of topics including space exploration, planetary science, space weather, climate change, animal behavior, evolution and paleontology. His feature on the upcoming solar maximum was shortlisted in the "top scoop" category at the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Awards for Excellence in 2023.

Edie Widder, deep-sea explorer and president and senior scientist at the Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA), which she co-founded in 2005, is talking about why humans need to protect the ocean. And not just the part we see, but its murky, deepest depths.

"Life exists into the tallest trees and deep into the soil on land. But that's an incredibly thin layer compared to the depths of the ocean. If you figure it by volume, then the ocean represents 99.5 percent of the living space on the planet, the biosphere. So clearly, it's an enormous part of that life machinery about which we know surprisingly little," says Widder, a former senior scientist at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Florida Atlantic University, and an expert in bioluminescence.

"We are, by nature, explorers. Humans have a history of exploration followed by exploitation. But in the ocean, weirdly, we reversed it. We've actually exploited the ocean before we've explored it," Widder says, noting that humans have explored less than 5 percent of the ocean.

A pivotal reason for exploring, preserving, and reversing the damage already inflicted upon the ocean is that its deepest realms are intricately intertwined with human health, and in fact, harbor disease-fighting properties.

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