Scientists make never-before-seen discovery on deep ocean floor: 'We have virtually no idea what lives there'
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers discovered over 500 potential new deep-sea species among 4,350 wildlife specimens collected from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a deep-sea area between Hawaiʻi and Mexico.
- The study, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, aims to create a comprehensive catalog of ocean floor biodiversity to better understand and preserve this ecosystem.
- The research was conducted 4,000 meters below the surface to assess the impacts of deep-sea metal mining, which targets critical minerals like nickel and cobalt used in green technologies.
- Scientists emphasize the need to predict biodiversity loss risks due to mining and advocate for investigating the protected 30% of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone to inform responsible extraction practices.
- Findings
