NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time, scientists have discovered an unexpected ecosystem of animal life flourishing beneath the ocean floor.
An expedition to a volcanically active ridge in the Pacific Ocean, located off the coast of South America, has uncovered various creatures, including worms, snails, giant tubeworms, and other extraordinary organisms thriving in the heated waters of underwater hot springs.
Researchers have focused on animal populations near hydrothermal vents for many years but believed that only microscopic life forms such as microbes and viruses could survive in such extreme environments. To their astonishment, an underwater robot sent on an exploratory mission last summer discovered diverse life forms hidden beneath volcanic rocks at the vents.
“This was completely unforeseen,” remarked Sabine Gollner, a co-author of the study from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.
According to Gollner, young animals from above the seafloor may be using the vents as pathways to colonize the previously uncharted depths.
The findings were published on Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, shedding light on an entirely new aspect of marine biology.
Looking ahead, further research will seek to determine if similar colonies of animal life exist beneath other hydrothermal vents around the world.
“This initial discovery is incredibly promising,” commented Jason Sylvan, a microbiologist at Texas A&M University who was not part of the research.
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AP video producer Zara Eldridge contributed to this report from London.
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