Production: Jesús Nicolás
Some thirty never-before-seen underwater species have been found in the deep waters of the Ningaloo underwater canyons, in Australia.
The scientific expedition aimed to explore the Ningaloo reef for a month. Using an underwater robot called the SuBastian, the team completed 20 dives to depths of up to 4,500 meters over 181 hours. During the exploration, a siphonophore – a colonial marine creature that forms a spiral structure of the jellyfish family – was discovered at almost 47 meters, the longest ever recorded. In addition, the researchers first observed a Taning’s bioluminescent octopus squid, a long-tailed sea cucumber and many other mollusks, barnacles and lobster species in Western Australia. The expedition was an initiative of the Schmidt Ocean Institute and the Western Australian Museum, and the results will be exhibited at the museum.
Using the SuBastian underwater robot, scientists for the first time are able to explore deep-sea canyons and coral reefs in Australia that have never been seen before. Video footage and samples collected from the oceans surrounding Australia have important implications for the sustainability and protection of these underwater ecosystems, and for similar habitats around the world that are in danger from rising ocean temperatures and other threats. environmental
According to Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of the Schmidt Ocean Institute: “There is so much we do not know about the deep sea … There are countless species never seen before. Our planet is deeply interconnected: what happens in the deep sea impacts life on land , and vice versa. This research is vital to advancing our understanding of that connection and the importance of protecting these fragile ecosystems. Ningaloo reefs are just one of many undiscovered underwater wonders that can help us better understand our planet”.
The information gained will allow the research team to formally describe many of the new species of animals that were found. In addition, it will allow them to develop a methodology to monitor, through underwater robots, Australia’s marine parks and analyze deep-sea samples for organisms in the Indian Ocean.
Without a doubt, the most exciting discovery has been that of the siphonophore: the entire structure looks like an animal; however, it is made up of thousands of individuals who form an entity at a higher level. These creatures often form spirals, but also other forms that baffle scientists.
