Mariana Trench reveals thousands of new microbial species
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the deepest place on Earth. In the Mariana Trench, they encountered species that were previously unknown to science.
Researchers discovered thousands of previously unidentified microorganisms at a depth of about 11,000 metres in the Mariana Trench, in a location known as the Challenger Deep. This is the deepest point on Earth, which has been reached by only 27 people. The first descent occurred in 1960, when oceanographers Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard were the first to reach the bottom. In 2012, "Titanic" director James Cameron joined them as the first solo diver.
New research published in the journal "Cell" reveals that in this extreme oceanic zone, known as the hadal zone, around 7,000 species of microorganisms have been discovered. Almost 90 percent of them were previously unknown to science.
In addition to microorganisms, scientists also found small crustaceans and snailfish, which was a surprise, as it was not previously known that these species inhabit such deep waters. They are able to withstand freezing cold and extremely high pressure, surviving at the very bottom of our planet.
Significance of the discovery
Research indicates that this part of the planet plays an irreplaceable role in global processes with unique ecosystems and extreme life processes.
Our research showed the hadal zone microbes exhibit extraordinary novelty and diversity, demonstrating the immense resource potential of the hadal microorganims in terms of new genes, new structures and new functions, the study authors noted, as cited by ladbible.com.
This discovery is the result of a Chinese expedition that conducted 33 dives to the bottom of the Challenger Deep using the deep-sea submersible Fendouzhe. Samples of seawater, organisms, and sediments from the ocean floor were collected, allowing for a thorough examination of this unique ecosystem.
