This New Deep-Sea Expedition Found Species That Were Completely Unknown To Science
Indian Defence Review • • science
Key Points:
- A recent expedition off the coast of Argentina uncovered vast, previously uncharted coral reefs and nearly thirty new species, revealing a rich and diverse deep-sea ecosystem that challenges prior assumptions about marine life in the region.
- The study, led by the University of Buenos Aires and supported by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, documented key habitats including a large white hard coral reef, chemical-rich cold seeps, and a rare whale fall at 2.4 miles depth, each contributing uniquely to the deep-sea food web.
- Cold seeps were found to support unique microbial communities and specialized marine species, highlighting their role as isolated ecosystems and raising new questions about ecosystem connectivity in the deep ocean.
- The expedition also uncovered evidence of human impact, such as plastic
