Underwater mountains are biodiversity hotspots and researchers exploring the Salas y Gómez ridge off Chile have found 50 species probably new to science. How much more has yet to be discovered?
Underwater mountains are biodiversity hotspots and researchers exploring the Salas y Gómez ridge off Chile have found 50 species probably new to science. How much more has yet to be discovered?were among more than 160 species never previously seen in the region that were spotted on a recent expedition exploring an underwater mountain range off the coast of South America.
Underwater mountain ranges are oases of life and biodiversity, where communities of different organisms band together: some creatures make the most of the elevation and unique currents that the peaks provide, while others find refuge in the nooks and crannies of the rocky slopes to build intricate structures.
As Easton’s research team collected data on 10 peaks along the 2,900km range of 110 seamounts, they spotted unique communities on each one. Species included sea toads among the various fish, crustaceans such as pale squat lobsters, molluscs, “gardens” of glass sponges, deep-water coral reefs, galaxy As these seamounts sit in an area of ocean where the water is so clear that the sun’s beams penetrate further into the water than anywhere else in the world, the scientists also found some of the deepest-known organisms that depend on photosynthesis.recorded to the north of Motu Motiro Hiva; bottom left, a hydroid seen on the northern side of Rapa Nui; right,“Pinks and magentas and light greens and dark green – and then you start seeing some oranges mixed in there too.
“It’s like you are driving a car down a dark road at night with the headlights on and all you can see is what is in front of you. The fact that we discovered so much, without even looking off to the side, we clearly are missing so much more.”
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