Scientists have discovered 50 new deep-sea species near Easter Island

Over 50 brand new species have been discovered lurking on an oceanic ridge in the Pacific Ocean.

These new species were discovered along with over 100 other species of crabs, corals, sea urchins, squids, fish, corals, molluscs, starfish, glass sponges and lobsters that were previously known to science but not thought to live in this ocean region.

One of the species found was a wrinkled coral, which set a new record for the world’s most deeply photosynthetically dependent animal.

This discovery was made by an international team of scientists on the Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition to the Salas y Gómez Ridge, an 1,800-mile-long chain of seamounts stretching between Easter Island — also known as Rapa Nui — and Chile.

This ridge is home to one of the most diverse and biodiverse marine areas on Earth, boasting a very high percentage of unique species, vital habitats for benthic creatures, vital pathways for migratory species (including whales, sea turtles, swordfish and sharks), and over 80 species threatened with extinction. Now over 160 species join its ranks.

“The main results of this campaign are that we found between 50 and 60 potentially new species at first glance, a number that will probably increase as we have many samples to work on in the lab,” Ariadna Mecho, a researcher in the Variability and climate change The Center for Supercomputing in Barcelona – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS), which was part of the expedition, said in a statement.

“We also found one of the deepest mesophotic corals in the world, extending the distribution of this Polynesian fauna by several hundred kilometres. And at depth we found fields of sponges and corals, habitats that are considered vulnerable and in need of protection. “

The expedition, led by researchers Erin E. Easton of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Javier Sellanes of the Universidad Católica del Norte, took place between February 24 and April 4. She explored many of the 110 seamounts that make up the Salas y Gómez Ridge, mapping over 30,000 square miles of seafloor, including six seamounts that have yet to be documented.

“The amazing habitats and animal communities we uncovered during these two expeditions provide a dramatic example of how little we know about this remote area,” Celanese said in a statement. “These expeditions will help alert decision-makers to the ecological importance of the areas and contribute to strengthening conservation strategies within and beyond jurisdictional waters.”

The discoveries of this expedition come just a few months after another expedition along the Nazca and Juan Fernández ridges revealed over 100 suspected new species. These two expeditions show that this region of the ocean is rich in biodiversity and therefore in need of protection.

“The observation of different ecosystems on individual seamounts highlights the importance of protecting the entire ridge, not just a few seamounts,” Easton said in the statement. “We hope that the data collected by this expedition will help to create new marine protected areas, including in the open sea of ​​the Salas y Gómez Ridge.”

The Salas y Gómez ridge has been considered as a candidate for a marine protected area in the high seas following the ratification of the UN High Seas Treaty. Although many countries, such as the United States, have signed the treaty, only Chile and Palau have completed ratification. The treaty suggests that once 60 countries ratify it, nations will be able to establish marine protected areas in international waters, provided they have adequate scientific evidence.

Four members of the Rapa Nui community, including a member of the Rapa Nui Marine Council, were involved in the expedition. The council serves as co-administrator for Chile’s outermost territorial seas and the marine protected area around Rapa Nui, and would help manage the Salas y Gómez marine protected area in the high seas if established.

“The importance of participating in an oceanographic scientific expedition for Rapa Nui lies in the opportunity to explore and better understand the marine environment around the island,” said Marcela Hayes, observer and member of the Rapa Nui Sea Council. “Natural resources, unknown marine species and climate phenomena that directly affect the community can be discovered through research and exploration.”

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