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Scientists Brave Twilight Zone for Ocean Secrets
20 Dec
Summary
- Divers collected 13 monitoring devices from Guam's deep reefs.
- Scientists found 20 potentially new species in the twilight zone.
- Climate change impacts are evident even in deep ocean waters.
A recent expedition off the coast of Guam saw scientific divers undertake perilous dives into the ocean's upper twilight zone, an ecosystem rarely explored due to its extreme depth. The team successfully retrieved 13 monitoring devices that had been collecting data for over eight years. These devices functioned as artificial reefs, attracting a diverse array of marine life, including potential new species.
The processing of specimens collected from the monitors has revealed a wealth of biodiversity, with scientists identifying approximately 2,000 individuals. Among these, 100 were previously unrecorded in the region, and 20 are considered potentially new species, including a possible new cardinalfish and sea slug.
However, the discoveries are shadowed by concerns over human impact. Fishing, pollution, and climate change are already affecting these deep reefs. Temperature data indicates that these waters may be warming, contradicting the notion of them being a safe refuge from rising global temperatures.
