The previously unknown ecosystem was discovered as part of a research expedition by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. SuBastian underwater robot equipped with a robotic arm has been launched from the Falkor ship off the coast of Central America. He managed to remove the upper layers from the bottom near hydrothermal vents at a depth of about 2500 meters. There, an ecosystem unknown to science, full of strange animals and chemically synthesized bacteria, awaited the researchers.
Hydrothermal vents
Hydrothermal vents were first noted in 1977 while studying the Eastern Pacific Ridge. It is a product of Earth’s geological activity. They can often be found in volcanically active places or where tectonic plates collide. The stacks can be several meters high and mineral-rich hot water gushes out.
Despite the extreme temperatures surrounding hydrothermal vents, reaching 360 degrees Celsius in some places, scientists have discovered thriving food chains full of synthetic bacteria, snails and crabs that derive energy from the nutrient-rich waters emerging from the vents. But until now, no one has looked under these structures.
An unknown world we had no idea existed
As part of the mission, the scientists used Sebastian’s robotic arm to pull up the top layers of the ocean floor, then placed boxes over the resulting cracks and craters. When they checked it a few days later, they discovered a lot of strange creatures. The researchers suggest that they must have reached the containers from beneath the ocean floor.
“We have long known about animals that live on land in underground cavities, and in the ocean about animals that live in sand and silt, but now for the first time scientists are looking for animals under hydrothermal vents,” says Jyotika Virmani from Schmidt’s vicinity. Institute that led the campaign. “This is a truly remarkable discovery of a new ecosystem, hidden beneath another ecosystem, that provides new evidence that life can exist in amazing places.”
“Our understanding of animal life near hydrothermal vents has greatly expanded with this discovery,” says Monica Bright, an ecologist at the University of Vienna who was part of the expedition. – There are two dynamic habitats. He adds that the animals that live above and below the surface around hydrothermal vents thrive together in harmony, depending on the fluid coming from below and the oxygen in the seawater.
Researchers have determined that some species can travel below the surface in a network of “veins” of hydrothermal vents filled with warm, nutrient-rich water, expanding their range. This may explain how some invertebrates have colonized new environments.
“The discoveries made on each Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition highlight the urgent need to explore our entire ocean so we know what is out there in the deep sea,” said Wendy Schmidt, President and Co-Founder of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. “Discovering new creatures, landscapes, and now a whole new ecosystem that highlights how much we still have to discover in our surroundings, and how important it is to protect what we don’t yet know or understand.”
Scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute will publish a description and findings of the research later this year. In the meantime, I will continue my observations of this mysterious newfound ecosystem.
Echo Richards embodies a personality that is a delightful contradiction: a humble musicaholic who never brags about her expansive knowledge of both classic and contemporary tunes. Infuriatingly modest, one would never know from a mere conversation how deeply entrenched she is in the world of music. This passion seamlessly translates into her problem-solving skills, with Echo often drawing inspiration from melodies and rhythms. A voracious reader, she dives deep into literature, using stories to influence her own hardcore writing. Her spirited advocacy for alcohol isn’t about mere indulgence, but about celebrating life’s poignant moments.
