Alaska’s New Whale Species
In the summer of 2023 a team of researchers set out to create high resolution mapping of the deep sea floor near the Aleutian Islands. These scientist partner with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to make this possible. Using high tech equipment and measuring instruments, they have traveled thousands of feet deep into this coastal region. Some of these areas have never been mapped before. And in their exploration, it seems this team may have discovered two possible new species; a sea pen and sea sponge.
High Tech Instruments
This crew utilized the Okeanos Explorer, a 224-foot federal research vessel, to facilitate this deep sea exploration. Using a remote underwater vehicle, these researchers were able to collect data with cameras and specialized tools for samples during this study. In an audio clip from an interview with KUBC, while using special filtering sample devices, the team collected two different specimens that are in consideration for being acknowledged as new species.
Deep Sea Marine Biology
After observing the colors, biological material, and shapes, researchers identified a sea pen and sea sponge. They have not seen any species like these ones. After sample collection and identification, the crew sent the specimens to the Smithsonian Institution to confirm that these are indeed new species. The Smithsonian reviews the nuances and dichotomies of the species to see if they display enough variance to be named a new species.
Biological Importance
The Aleutian Islands, home to a wide array of life and species variance. This region contributes to vibrant and abundant marine life in this coastal zone. These marine habitats act as an essential component in a much larger food chain that influences the balance between aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial life, both locally and globally.
These two possible new species, although they are quite small, play an important function in this environment. Scientists currently research and collect data to determine why this region attracts such an ample amount of diversity and why those species are there. With both the sea sponge, and sea pen discovery, researchers have found them to be holding multitudes of even smaller life forms to support whole vibrant micro ecosystems.
Flow and Balance
Both of these species can control water flow through their system. Simultaneously, they live in balance with other species to form their own natural protections and can create a homeostasis for themselves. When these species form a whole new habitat with their bodies, they are able to increase the populous of species within the region that cohabitate with these deep sea creatures.
Exploring the Aleutian Islands
This exploration and action to have high resolution mapping of these deep sea floors offers us more knowledge from previously uncharted areas. These deep sea habitats have more than a plentiful amount of life forms within these waters and ocean floor habitats. It is amazing that this team was able to identify these organisms as possible new species. One researcher described the data collection process as “hard even to count the number of sponges that we saw”.
Amongst possible new marine flora and fauna discoveries, this team was able to collect a generous amount of data from the deep ocean floor. This study also revealed that dense layers of marine life and plumes of bubbles rise through water columns, further supporting life and food resources. This was discovered with sonar tools. (NOAA) With the research involved, the high tech instruments, and amount of data collected, we can look forward to more deep sea discoveries and expanding on what we know about Earth’s ocean life.
