September 17th, 2024
In a groundbreaking expedition to the largely uncharted Bounty Trough off New Zealand, scientists have unveiled approximately 100 new and potentially undiscovered marine species, according to a NIWA media release on Tuesday. This three-week journey aboard the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) vessel Tangaroa marks a significant milestone for the Southern Hemisphere's exploration efforts under the global Ocean Census initiative.
The big picture: Spearheaded by the Nippon Foundation and the UK-based ocean exploration organisation Nekton, the Ocean Census aims to expedite the discovery and conservation of oceanic life. This venture into the Bounty Trough, extending 800 kilometers and reaching depths of up to 4800 meters, resulted in the collection of nearly 1800 samples, revealing a rich tapestry of marine biodiversity.
Researchers onboard the recent Ocean Census voyage have discovered around 100 new species. 😮
— NIWA (@niwa_nz) March 12, 2024
The team from NIWA, @oceancensus & @Te_Papa collected almost 1,800 samples from as deep as 4,800m along the 800km-long Bounty Trough. 🚢
More here 👉https://t.co/ymCCU2eBOF pic.twitter.com/sSgS8K699r
Zoom in: Professor Alex Rogers, Science Director of Ocean Census, and Sadie Mills, a marine biologist with NIWA, co-led the expedition, expressing astonishment at the diversity and quantity of new species discovered, including fish, molluscs, corals, and more. This exploration has not only contributed new species to New Zealand's marine biodiversity inventory but has also enhanced understanding of deep-sea habitats and the distribution of rare species.
What they're saying: "It looks like we have a great haul of new, undiscovered species...what’s really surprised me here is the fact this extends to animals like fish – we think we’ve got three new species of fish," said Prof. Rogers, highlighting the unexpected breadth of discovery.
Details: Among the intriguing finds are dozens of molluscs, three fish species, a shrimp, a cephalopod, and a new genus of coral. A particularly baffling discovery is a creature that might represent a new species, genus, or even a new group outside of known octocoral classifications, suggesting a significant leap in our understanding of deep-sea biodiversity.
What's next: A collaborative effort by scientists from NIWA, Te Papa in New Zealand, and international experts from the UK and Australia, is underway to confirm these discoveries through taxonomic workshops. These findings are expected to be instrumental in expanding the New Zealand Marine Biota NIWA Biodiversity Memoir, which documents the known living species within the country's marine ecosystem.
The bottom line: The Ocean Census NIWA Bounty Trough Expedition has not only showcased the unknown wonders of the ocean depths but also set a precedent for international collaboration in the pursuit of understanding and protecting marine biodiversity, leaving a lasting legacy for New Zealand and the global scientific community.