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After four-and-a-half years, the world's largest deep-sea exploration mission has identified at least 12 new species of marine life, including a new kind of coral.
Funded by the European Union, the just-completed ATLAS Project carried out some 45 research expeditions since June 2016, exploring undersea life in a deep stretch of the North Atlantic.
More than 80 scientists and student volunteers, representing disciplines ranging from marine biology to ocean chemistry. from 13 nations took part in the $11 million project.
In addition to new lifeforms, the team discovered species living in areas where they were previously unknown, as well as evidence of climate change's devastating impact on the world's oceans.
After four-and-a-half years, the world's largest deep-sea exploration mission has identified at least 12 new species of marine life, including a new kind of coral.
Funded by the European Union, the just-completed ATLAS Project carried out some 45 research expeditions since June 2016, exploring undersea life in a deep stretch of the North Atlantic.
More than 80 scientists and student volunteers, representing disciplines ranging from marine biology to ocean chemistry. from 13 nations took part in the $11 million project.
In addition to new lifeforms, the team discovered species living in areas where they were previously unknown, as well as evidence of climate change's devastating impact on the world's oceans.
© Provided by Daily Mail Cold-water corals and seastars. The ATLAS Project carried out 45 research expeditions since June 2016, exploring a deep stretch of the North Atlantic and uncovering 12 new species of marine life
Because they're so inaccessible, little is known about the deepest parts of the oceans.
'We have better maps of the surface of the Moon and Mars than of the sea floor,' ATLAS Project ocean chemist George Wolff told the BBC
'So whenever you go to the deep ocean, you find something new — not just individual species but entire ecosystems.'
The original plan was to map the deep Atlantic off the coasts of the US, Canada and Europe, and venture out into international waters.
a group of pink flowers: Among their discoveries were mollusks, fish, sponges and a new kind of coral growth, Epizoanthus martinsae, which lives on black corals more than 1,300 feet beneath the surface.3 SLIDES © Provided by Daily Mail
Among their discoveries were mollusks, fish, sponges and a new kind of coral growth, Epizoanthus martinsae, which lives on black corals more than 1,300 feet beneath the surface.
Instead, the team ended up focusing their gaze on 12 specific sites in the deep northern Atlantic.
A former Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker, the Amundsen, was refitted as an arctic research vessel and served as a floating base of operations for missions in Scotland, Iceland, Spain, England, .
© Provided by Daily Mail A former Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker, the Amundsen, was refitted as an arctic research vessel and served as a floating base of operations
Their stops included the Bay of Biscay, Rockall Bank, the Gulf of Cadiz, Alboran Sea, Reykjanes Ridge and Mingulay Reef.
Because they were exploring depths that would crush human divers, underwater robots were deployed and were able to reach regions never before explored.
Among their discoveries were mollusks, fish, sponges and a new kind of coral growth, Epizoanthus martinsae, which lives on black corals more than 1,300 feet beneath the surface.
Microporella funbio, a bryozoan — or sedentary animal resembling moss — was located in an undersea mud volcano off the coast of Spain.
Because they're so inaccessible, little is known about the deepest parts of the oceans.
'We have better maps of the surface of the Moon and Mars than of the sea floor,' ATLAS Project ocean chemist George Wolff told the BBC
'So whenever you go to the deep ocean, you find something new — not just individual species but entire ecosystems.'
The original plan was to map the deep Atlantic off the coasts of the US, Canada and Europe, and venture out into international waters.
a group of pink flowers: Among their discoveries were mollusks, fish, sponges and a new kind of coral growth, Epizoanthus martinsae, which lives on black corals more than 1,300 feet beneath the surface.3 SLIDES © Provided by Daily Mail
Among their discoveries were mollusks, fish, sponges and a new kind of coral growth, Epizoanthus martinsae, which lives on black corals more than 1,300 feet beneath the surface.
Instead, the team ended up focusing their gaze on 12 specific sites in the deep northern Atlantic.
A former Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker, the Amundsen, was refitted as an arctic research vessel and served as a floating base of operations for missions in Scotland, Iceland, Spain, England, .
© Provided by Daily Mail A former Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker, the Amundsen, was refitted as an arctic research vessel and served as a floating base of operationsTheir stops included the Bay of Biscay, Rockall Bank, the Gulf of Cadiz, Alboran Sea, Reykjanes Ridge and Mingulay Reef.
Because they were exploring depths that would crush human divers, underwater robots were deployed and were able to reach regions never before explored.
Among their discoveries were mollusks, fish, sponges and a new kind of coral growth, Epizoanthus martinsae, which lives on black corals more than 1,300 feet beneath the surface.
Microporella funbio, a bryozoan — or sedentary animal resembling moss — was located in an undersea mud volcano off the coast of Spain.
© Provided by Daily Mail Microporella funbio, a bryozoan — or sedentary animal resembling moss — was located in an undersea mud volcano off the coast of Spain
© Provided by Daily Mail The ATLAS team found evidence of rising temperatures, slowing currents and increased ocean acidity, which threaten delicate coral 'cities'ain
In addition, 35 known species were found in areas they had never been observed before.
In the Azores, ATLAS researchers observed a field of hydrothermal vents, sea-floor hot springs that are home to complex marine communities.
They're rare outposts of biological productivity in the vast deep but they are threatened by global warming.
The ATLAS team found evidence that greenhouse gasses are contributing to rising temperatures, slowing currents and increased ocean acidity, which threaten delicate coral reefs.
© Provided by Daily Mail Anemones at the Rockall Bank.
Because they were exploring depths that would crush human divers, underwater robots were deployed
'Their skeletons are getting more porous as that slightly acidic sea water corrodes and damages their skeleton, Roberts told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
'It's almost like an osteoporosis. They've become more brittle, more vulnerable to breaking.'
He predicted that, over the next century, many deep-sea habitats will collapse.
Marine biologist Murray Roberts, who led the project, told the BBC the networks formed by sponges or deep-ocean corals form 'cities' in the deep sea.
'Their skeletons are getting more porous as that slightly acidic sea water corrodes and damages their skeleton, Roberts told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
'It's almost like an osteoporosis. They've become more brittle, more vulnerable to breaking.'
He predicted that, over the next century, many deep-sea habitats will collapse.
Marine biologist Murray Roberts, who led the project, told the BBC the networks formed by sponges or deep-ocean corals form 'cities' in the deep sea.
© Provided by Daily Mail Fish and sea urchins at the Rockall Bank. Researchers warn that, because of climate change, many deep-sea habitats like this one will collapse
'They support life. So really important fish use these places as spawning grounds,' he said.
'If those cities are damaged by destructive human uses, those fish have nowhere to spawn and the function of those whole ecosystems is lost for future generations.
The ATLAS project has already generated 110 peer-reviewed research studies, with nearly 100 more expected soon.
A new enterprise exploring the southern Atlantic is expected to start soon, Science Alert reports, and is expected to conclude in 2023.
'They support life. So really important fish use these places as spawning grounds,' he said.
'If those cities are damaged by destructive human uses, those fish have nowhere to spawn and the function of those whole ecosystems is lost for future generations.
The ATLAS project has already generated 110 peer-reviewed research studies, with nearly 100 more expected soon.
A new enterprise exploring the southern Atlantic is expected to start soon, Science Alert reports, and is expected to conclude in 2023.
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