Scientists have discovered a new “oasis of life” in the Maldives, where sharks come to feast on krill

The new ecosystem has been discovered at a depth of 1,640 feet (500 meters) in the Indian Ocean, where hungry sharks come to feast on krill.

Called the “capture zone,” scientists have described it as an “oasis of life” in the middle of a “very large ocean desert” in the Maldives.

Predators such as sharks and other large fish flock to the area to feast on the hive of small organisms known as micronekton.

These are marine organisms that can swim regardless of the current, migrating to the surface of the ocean at night and diving back into the depths at dawn.

However, according to Oxford University researchers, these micronekton get stuck in the underwater landscape at a depth of 1,640 feet (500 meters).

“There are all signs of a new ecosystem here,” said Professor Alex Rogers, who spent more than 30 hours underwater observing the trap area.

“The capture zone creates an oasis of life in the Maldives, and it is highly likely that it exists on other oceanic islands as well as on the slopes of the continents.”

A new ecosystem of krill and plankton has been discovered at a depth of 1,640 feet (500 meters) in the Indian Ocean.

A new ecosystem of krill and plankton has been discovered at a depth of 1,640 feet (500 meters) in the Indian Ocean.

Predators such as sharks and other large fish flock to the area to feast on the hive of small organisms known as micronekton.  In the photo: blackberry shark.

Predators such as sharks and other large fish flock to the area to feast on the hive of small organisms known as micronekton. In the photo: blackberry shark.

What are MICRONECTONS?

Micronekton are marine organisms ranging in size from 0.8 to 8 inches (2 to 20 cm).

They can swim independently of the current and exhibit “vertical migration”.

This is when the zooplankton rises to the sun-drenched shallows every night at dusk to feast on the phytoplankton.

Then, when the sun rises, they return to deeper waters to avoid predators.

The Nekton Maldives mission, which included sending submersibles to nearly 3,300 feet (1,000 meters), set sail on September 4.

During the 34-day expedition, the researchers aimed to conduct the first ever systematic exploration and sampling of the deep sea around the Maldives.

Prior to the mission, almost nothing was known about what lies below 100 feet (30 meters) in this region.

While aboard their Omega Seamaster II submersible, they explored the Sato Rahaa seamount, a 4,900-foot (1,500-metre) seamount.

They also saw that the layers of volcanic rocks and fossilized carbonate reefs form steep vertical cliffs and sloping terraces.

They form the basis of the Maldivian atolls – ring-shaped islands surrounding the lagoons.

It is this rough underwater landscape that traps the micronekton and prevents it from diving deeper as the sun rises.

This trap effect has been associated with seamount biodiversity hotspots in the past, but has never been associated with oceanic islands such as the Maldives.

The Nekton Maldives mission, which included sending submersibles to nearly 3,300 feet (1,000 meters), set sail on September 4.

Aboard their Omega Seamaster II submersible (pictured), the scientists explored the Sato Rahaa Seamount, a 4,900-foot (1,500-metre) seamount.

Aboard their Omega Seamaster II submersible (pictured left and right), the scientists explored the Sato Rahaa seamount, a 4,900-foot (1,500-meter) seamount.

The scientists also saw that volcanic rock layers and fossilized carbonate reefs form steep vertical cliffs and sloping terraces.  They form the basis of the Maldivian atolls - ring-shaped islands surrounding the lagoons.  It is this rough underwater landscape that traps the micronekton and prevents it from diving deeper as the sun rises.

The scientists also saw that volcanic rock layers and fossilized carbonate reefs form steep vertical cliffs and sloping terraces. They form the basis of the Maldivian atolls – ring-shaped islands surrounding the lagoons. It is this rough underwater landscape that traps the micronekton and prevents it from diving deeper as the sun rises.

This trap effect has been associated with seamount biodiversity hotspots in the past, but has never been associated with oceanic islands such as the Maldives.

This trap effect has been associated with seamount biodiversity hotspots in the past, but has never been associated with oceanic islands such as the Maldives.

The scientists filmed underwater life with their on-board cameras, collected biological samples, and mapped the area using sonar.

The data indicated that trapped animals have been targeted by large pelagic predators, including schools of tuna and sharks.

Tiger sharks, gill sharks, sand tiger sharks, dogfish, throat sharks, toothed hammerhead sharks, silky sharks and the very rare blackberry shark were documented during the mission.

Shafia Naeem, CEO of the Maldives Institute of Marine Research, said: “We have observed sharks quite often in the shallow waters of the Maldives before, but for the first time we have been able to document the huge diversity of sharks at depth. sea.’

Schools of plankton also attract large deep-sea fish, including spiny oreos and alfonsinos.

Lucy Woodall, associate professor of marine biology and chief scientist at Nekton, said the team is interested in understanding exactly what’s going on at 1,640 feet (500 meters).

Tiger sharks, gill sharks, sand tiger sharks, dogfish, throat sharks, toothed hammerhead sharks, silky sharks and the very rare blackberry shark were documented during the mission.  in the photo: sixgill shark with hagfish

Tiger sharks, gill sharks, sand tiger sharks, dogfish, throat sharks, toothed hammerhead sharks, silky sharks and the very rare blackberry shark were documented during the mission. in the photo: sixgill shark with hagfish

“It’s something special at 500 meters, this life goes even deeper, what is this transition, what is there and why?” she said.

“Why do we see patterns that we observed on this expedition? This will allow us to understand the depths of the ocean much better.”

The discovery could have important implications for sustainable fisheries management, carbon storage and climate change mitigation.

While the analysis of the data collected during the mission is ongoing, the Maldivian government has already assessed the findings as very important.

The President of the Maldives, HE Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, said: “The discovery of a ‘catch zone’ and an oasis of life in the depths surrounding the Maldives provides us with important new knowledge that further supports our commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of the ocean, and almost certainly to support fisheries. and tourism.

Earth’s shifting continents could DESTROY marine life in deepest oceans, study warns

A new study has warned that the movement of the continents could wipe out marine life in the deepest parts of the oceans by depriving them of oxygen.

As water at the surface of the ocean approaches the poles, it becomes colder and denser before sinking to the bottom and carrying oxygen to the ocean floor.

Eventually, the water returns the nutrients released from the sunken organic matter back to the surface, where they encourage plankton growth.

This cycle is key to sustaining marine life in today’s oceans.

Scientists from the University of CaliforniaRiverside used computer models to recreate conditions on Earth from 540 million years ago to the present day, in particular taking into account ocean circulation currents.

They then repositioned the continents while maintaining a constant concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere, revealing the vast distance. oxygen levels at different depths.

Unfortunately, if this happens, deep sea creatures, including giant worms, squid, and sponges, could be wiped out.

Read more here