New deep sea census reveals weird undiscovered species
A global census is shining light on undiscovered sea creatures under the sea. |
This is a finned octopus, affectionately referred to by scientists as "Dumbo" because it uses large, ear-like fins to make its way through the ocean. Dumbo lives 3000 metres (1.9 miles) underwater - in a part of the ocean thought by most until recently to be dark and lifeless.
But Dumbo is not the only resident of the deepest ocean. It's just one of thousands of newly discovered creatures brought to light by a massive ten year effort by thousands of scientists from more than 32 countries. Called the "Census of Marine Life", it aims to eventually identify every organism that inhabits the earth's river, sea and ocean systems. Five of its 14 global projects focus on those parts where sunlight does not penetrate, the depths below 200 metres.
Dr. Ian Poiner is Chair of the Census Scientific Steering Committee.
"One of the things that we should understand is that going into the census, it was the view, the common view that the deep ocean was a barren lifeless place. It's dark, it's cold and it's very high pressure. What the census has shown is that it is the opposite. It's a rich place. Rich with many types of species inhabiting many different habitats down there," he said.
Using the latest in image and sensing technology, the deep sea census has uncovered 17,650 species that thrive in the darkness of the deep ocean. The species range from previously undescribed crabs and shrimp to worms. Most have adapted to a diet based on food droppings from the sunlit layer above. Others thrive on the bacteria that break down oil, sulfur and methane spewing from vents in the ocean floor.
The deep sea field projects are dedicated to finding new creatures in parts of the ocean that are too deep for sunlight to reach. These latest findings have come from the continental margins known as the Abyssal Plains and the spine-like ridge jutting from the Mid- Atlantic Ocean floor. Dr. Poiner says there is much more still to be discovered.
"There is roundabout 230,000 named marine species at the moment. We expect there will be at least a million and there could be many more and that is not including the really tiny things, what we call the marine microbes," said Dr. Poiner.
Poiner says that one of the most exciting aspects of the deep sea research is where researchers exploring depths of 5000 meters (3 miles), are able to put together a better map of what the marine ecosystem consists of - information that is crucial to decisions about issues ranging from over-fishing to climate change.
"Without that knowledge, we will struggle to manage our oceans, to utilize our oceans and we will struggle to understand the life systems that support our planet," he said.
The Marine Life census will be unveiled in London in October 2010.
Credit : Reuters
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23 พฤศจิกายน 2552 เวลา 12:21 น.
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