Deep-Sea Mountains Off The Coast Of Chile Are Teeming With Life

[Judi Lynn]

Priya Shukla
Contributor

Feb 24, 2024,09:15am EST



A spiraling coral documented at 1419 meters deep on Seamount JF1, within the bounds of the Mar de ... [+]ROV SUBASTIAN / SCHMIDT OCEAN INSTITUTE
A research expedition exploring seamounts near Valparaíso, Chile may have found over 100 new species thriving across the Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges.

The Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges are deep-sea mountain ranges with multiple volcanoes that extend nearly 1,870 miles and are home to numerous species. Many of these are important fishery species, such as jack mackerel and swordfish, while others are rare and cannot be found elsewhere in the ocean. The Humboldt Current that flows north along the Chilean coast delivers cool, nutrient-rich seawater that fuels the diversity of life found across the underwater mountain range.

The Schmidt Ocean Institute, in partnership with Universidad Católica del Norte, explored the Ridges via the R/V Falkor (too) earlier this year. The vessel Mwas equipped with an ROV, a camera, and multiple instruments to make a wide variety of observations about biodiversity in the deep sea environment that could inform efforts to establish a marine protected area in this part of the high seas. This expedition is part of a larger effort to address the impacts of climate change on ocean habitats in and around Chile.

From January 8 - February 11, scientists surveyed the range spanning from Chile to Rapa Nui (‘Easter Island’) as well as two existing marine protected areas in Chile. In addition to mapping 20,377 square miles, they also found four previously unknown seamounts. To examine the seamounts, an underwater robot capable of descending almost 15,000 feet was deployed and found unique ecosystems across the seamounts, such as sponge gardens and coral reefs. Within them, researchers spotted squat lobsters, sea urchins, and small crustaceans known as amphipods. Additional specimens were collected to test their genetics and confirm whether certain species are indeed new to science.

. . .

Considered the planet’s largest habitat, the deep sea is underexplored. Despite the ocean covering 70% of the planet, only 6% of the ocean floor has been mapped to a resolution that is meaningful for scientific purposes. Even less is known about the species existing across the ocean’s depths. Up to one million species may exist in the ocean, and the vast majority of these have yet to be discovered (about 2,000 new species are described by scientists each year).

More:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/priyashukla/2024/02/24/deep-sea-mountains-off-the-coast-of-chile-are-teeming-with-life/

[StarryNite]

1. An ocean of awe.

Truly amazing.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Overwhelming! So much complexity. . .

Thank you.

[Deuxcents]

2. Life is able to thrive because of protections that some governments deem important

No tourists slathered with sunscreen with no regard to the look but don’t touch requests sure help. I remember a trip to Mexico many years ago and people picking sea fans, urchins and all kinds of living things for souvenirs. Maddening. Water is our element and most likely the birth of life on earth. These photos are beautiful and I wish all countries with under water treasures still viable would clamp down with restrictions to let some areas maybe regenerate.

[Judi Lynn]

9. What we're seeing is that the oceans themselves have been deeply defiled already & they must be saved at all costs.

Gotta hope change will come in time. . .

Thank you, Deuxcents.

[mysteryowl]

3. Another amazing post topic by Judi!

[Judi Lynn]

10. I got lucky to stumble across it, mysteryowl! Thank you, so much. 🦉🦉🦉🦉🦉

[Hekate]

4. Life absolutely everywhere on this planet ❤️ No matter how far down you go,...

I could watch hours worth of this film — with subtitles.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Feeling the same way, Hekate. They are so unfamiliar, amazingly designed they don't even seem possible.

I could watch them exactly as you describe, for hours without ever losing interest. . .

Thank you, so much.



Tiny octopus with "ears"? How can that happen?

[Judi Lynn]

5. In massive underwater mountain range, scientists find more than 100 new species

Seamounts off the coast of Chile host a diverse, delicate ecosystem
22 FEB 20242:55 PM ETBYELI RAMOS

- 52 second video at link -

Some 3000 meters underwater off the coast of Chile, striking purple, green, and orange sponges burst from the rocks. Sea urchins with maroon spines gather in colonies, while poppy-colored crustaceans pick their way among them. Transparent, ghostly creatures undulate in the dark. A team of researchers captured these and dozens of other never-before-seen species—more than 100 in total—with a camera mounted to a deep-sea robot traversing largely explored underwater mountains, known as seamounts, with steep cliffs that rise from the sea floor.

Researchers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute recorded footage up to 4500 meters deep near the Nazca and Salas y Gómez ridges, which together stretch more than 3000 kilometers. Along with the variety of new organisms—including sponges, amphipods, urchins, crustaceans, and corals—the team mapped four seamounts in Chilean waters that were previously unknown to scientists, they report today in a press release. The tallest of these measured 3530 meters from sea floor to peak and was unofficially named Solito by the researchers.

Parts of these seamounts owe their extensive biodiversity largely to their status as protected marine parks, the researchers note. Large stretches of the region are protected by the Juan Fernández and Nazca-Desventuradas marine parks, administered by Chile. In addition to photographs, the robot also captured some of these deep-sea denizens, which will be used to identify their species or classify them as new ones. The new species could help
scientists learn more about the broader region’s intricate lineages, as well as the evolutionary twists and turns that shaped them.

https://www.science.org/content/article/massive-underwater-mountain-range-scientists-find-more-100-new-species

Eli Ramos
Author

[Judi Lynn]

6. Giant underwater mountain and 100 new species discovered in 'mind-blowing' expedition

Harriet Brewis

A bright red “sea toad” and an underwater mountain four times taller than the world's biggest skyscraper are among the jaw-dropping discoveries made by a team of deep-sea explorers in a single stretch of the ocean.

Between 8 January and 11 February, researchers for the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) explored the seafloor off the coast of Chile and unearthed a scientific treasure trove.

These include more than 100 previously unknown marine species and a handful of never-before-seen seamounts.

Footage recorded by the SOI team offers a window into the extraordinary landscape and its inhabitants, including intricate glass sponges and lobsters with barbed legs.

The expedition, titled "Seamounts of the Southeast Pacific," sent a robot more than 4,500 metres (14,000 feet) beneath the waves to collect data from 10 seamounts in the region.

This will then be used to advance Chile’s marine protection efforts, the SOI said in a statement.

More:
https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/new-species-underwater-mountain-discovered

[Judi Lynn]

7. 'Mind-Blowing': Scientists Discover Over 100 New Species in Undersea Mountain Range in Chile

Story by Samyarup Chowdhury • 19h

An international team of scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute discovered over 100 new marine species in a massive undersea mountain range off the coast of Chile.

Knewz.com has learned that the scientists also found four undersea mountains in the range that were previously not known to scientists.

A deep-sea expedition off the coast of Chile has uncovered a treasure trove of scientific wonders, including more than 100 previously unknown marine species and a handful of never-before-seen underwater mountains — the largest of which is around four times the size of the world's tallest building.

Incredible photos and video footage of the underwater landscape also showcase a menagerie of deep-sea weirdos, including intricate sponges, spiraling corals, a beady-eye lobster, a bizarre stack of oblong sea urchins and a bright red "sea toad" with hands for fins.

Between Jan. 8 and Feb. 11, researchers on board the Schmidt Ocean Institute's (SOI) research vessel Falkor (too) explored the seafloor off the coast of Chile. The expedition, named "Seamounts of the Southeast Pacific," focused on underwater mountains, or seamounts, in three main areas: the Nazca and Salas y Gómez ridges — two chains of more than 200 seamounts that stretch a combined 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) from Chile to Easter Island (also known as Rapa Nui); as well as the Juan Fernández and Nazca-Desventuradas marine parks.

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mind-blowing-scientists-discover-over-100-new-species-in-undersea-mountain-range-in-chile/ar-BB1iPvUc