Home / Environment / New Expedition Reveals Hidden Coral Forests
New Expedition Reveals Hidden Coral Forests
6 Jun
Summary
- Complex sea floor structures support diverse marine life.
- Centuries-old cold-water corals create vital ocean habitats.
- Expedition documented redfish, sharks, and deep-sea chimaeras.
Deep beneath the waves off Newfoundland and Labrador, a recent expedition has unveiled a visually stunning and complex underwater ecosystem. Scientists documented a sea floor with intricate structures, ranging from soft mud to solid bedrock, which are essential for a variety of marine life.
Cold-water corals, some over a century old and a meter tall, create vital three-dimensional habitats. These ancient structures, growing slowly at about a centimeter per year, serve as nurseries for young fish and invertebrates and provide food for other species.
The expedition observed large schools of redfish, numerous black dogfish sharks, and 13 different types of chimaeras, a deep-sea fish rarely seen due to its habitat depth. This detailed scientific information underscores the significance of these scattered habitats in supporting fisheries and storing carbon for Canadians.
