BAN DEEP SEA MINING
FIU scientists uncover hidden extinction risks in the deep sea
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Researchers from Florida International University analyzed genetic information from 486 marine specimens to understand how populations of certain lanternfish and deep-sea shrimp have changed over time and how vulnerable they may be to future environmental pressures.
view moreCredit: Florida International University
New genetic evidence suggests marine life in the deep Gulf may be more vulnerable than previously believed.
A biodiversity crisis is unfolding across the planet, but the deep sea was thought immune and even a refuge for marine life. New research led by Florida International University scientists suggests that assumption may be alarmingly wrong.
By examining more than a decade of genetic data, the research team uncovered troubling signs of extinction risk among five species living hundreds of meters beneath the surface of the Gulf, raising the possibility that a biodiversity crisis is also unfolding in one of the planet's largest and least understood habitats. Led by FIU marine scientist Pedro A. Peres from the Bracken-Grissom Lab, the study examined three species of lanternfish and two species of deep-sea shrimp collected between 2011 and 2023.
Researchers analyzed genetic information from 486 specimens to understand how populations have changed over time and how vulnerable they may be to future environmental pressures. This is one of only a few studies to examine how the DNA of deep sea animals has changed over time, according to Peres.
All five species exhibited genetic warning signs associated with elevated extinction risk, Peres said. One lanternfish species, Diaphus dumerilii, lost approximately 8% of its genetic diversity over 12 years — a decline comparable to or greater than losses documented in some threatened and endangered animals over much longer periods. The researchers also found that each species had a relatively small effective population size. This doesn't mean there are necessarily few animals. It means relatively few individuals are contributing genetically to future generations.
This challenges the idea that deep-sea species are naturally more resilient because they occupy such vast environments,” Peres said. “It shows how much we can miss when we look only at population abundance without considering their genetic diversity and long-term viability.”
Genetic diversity is essential to a species' survival, according to Heather Bracken-Grissom, assistant director of the Institute of Environment’s Coastlines and Oceans Division. A co-author of this study, she has spearheaded the research investigating the genetic diversity and resilience of deep-sea species.
“Genetic diversity provides the variation populations need to adapt to changing conditions, resist disease and recover from environmental disturbances,” she said. “When that diversity disappears, a species can also lose the ability to withstand future threats.”
The researchers used climate models to predict how suitable the Gulf's deep-sea habitats may become by 2050 and 2100. Four of the five species could experience significant shrinking of suitable habitat in the Gulf — as much as 70%. The findings are particularly concerning, Peres said, because deep-sea species have traditionally been assumed to maintain large, resilient populations due to their extensive habitats and broad distributions.
The research also raises questions about the lasting effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Previous studies documented substantial declines in deep-sea animal populations following the disaster.
Although the researchers do not directly attribute the genetic changes to the spill, the findings suggest environmental disturbances may have consequences that persist long after the immediate damage.
“Our results suggest some deep-sea populations may have already been genetically vulnerable before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” Peres said. “This has important implications for understanding the consequences of environmental disturbances. Events such as oil spills may affect populations that already have limited genetic resilience.”
The study also includes co-authors Keith Sellers from FIU and Tracey T. Sutton from Nova Southeastern University. The findings demonstrate how genetic monitoring can reveal conservation threats that traditional population surveys might miss.
“This study serves as a wake-up call for the scientific community,” Peres said, “highlighting the urgent need to integrate genetic monitoring into biodiversity assessments and emphasizing the importance of long-term monitoring to better understand and detect changes in marine populations over time.”
Journal
Nature Communications
Method of Research
Data/statistical analysis
Subject of Research
Animals
Article Title
Extinction risks in deep-sea populations revealed by genomic data and ecological niche modeling
Article Publication Date
12-Nov-2026
