Scientists find new species thriving 13,123 feet below water surface

Scientists conducting a deep-sea mining test in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean discovered numerous previously unknown species thriving 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) below the surface. This international research project, spanning over five years, cataloged 4,350 animals larger than 0.3 millimeters and identified 788 species, mainly marine bristle worms, crustaceans, and mollusks. The findings reveal surprising biodiversity in an environment with no sunlight and scarce nutrients, although individual animal counts are much lower than in shallower waters. Molecular DNA analysis was critical for identifying many new species and understanding the ecological dynamics of this largely unexplored deep-sea ecosystem. While the mining activity caused a roughly one-third decline in species richness along the vehicle’s tracks, the overall ecological impact was less severe than initially feared. The research underscores how little is known about deep-ocean life and highlights the importance of rigorous environmental assessments before expanding deep-sea mining. Given the