Ученые обнаружили пять тысяч новых видов в Тихом океане

Автор: Cell Press, 7 июня 2023 г.

Подборка глубоководных экземпляров из коллекции музея. Фото: Попечители Лондонского музея естественной истории.

The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a massive area in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of India and rich in minerals, has been parceled out to various companies for impending deep-sea mining. To gain insights into what could be jeopardized once mining operations begin, a group of biologists has constructed the first "CCZ checklist." This checklist encompasses all the speciesA species is a group of living organisms that share a set of common characteristics and are able to breed and produce fertile offspring. The concept of a species is important in biology as it is used to classify and organize the diversity of life. There are different ways to define a species, but the most widely accepted one is the biological species concept, which defines a species as a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce viable offspring in nature. This definition is widely used in evolutionary biology and ecology to identify and classify living organisms." data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]">записи видов, собранные во время прошлых исследовательских путешествий в этот регион.

Their research, which was recently published in the journal Current BiologyCurrent Biology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published biweekly by Cell Press. It is focused on all aspects of biology, from molecular biology and genetics to ecology and evolutionary biology. The journal covers a wide range of topics, including cellular biology, neuroscience, animal behavior, plant biology, and more. Current Biology is known for its high-impact research articles, as well as its insightful commentary, analysis, and reviews of the latest developments in the field. It is widely read by scientists and researchers in biology and related fields, and has a reputation for publishing groundbreaking research that advances our understanding of the natural world." data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]"> Текущая биология выявила в ЗКЗ в общей сложности 5578 уникальных видов. Примечательно, что, по их оценкам, от 88% до 92% этих видов совершенно новы для науки.

«Мы разделяем эту планету со всем этим удивительным биоразнообразием, и мы обязаны понять его и защитить», — сказала Мюриэль Рабоне, глубоководный эколог из Музея естественной истории в Лондоне, Великобритания.

Занимая шесть миллионов квадратных километров от Гавайских островов до Мексики, CCZ является одним из самых нетронутых регионов дикой природы в мировом океане. Чтобы изучить его, исследователи отправляются в исследовательские круизы по Тихому океану, в которых используются методы отбора проб, начиная от технических, например, транспортных средств с дистанционным управлением, пересекающих дно океана, и заканчивая простыми, например, прочный ящик, который приземляется на дно (так называемый « отбор проб коробчатого керна»).

«Это большая лодка, но она кажется крошечной посреди океана. Можно было видеть, как накатываются штормы; это очень драматично», — сказал Рабоне. «И это было удивительно — в каждом образце керна мы видели новые виды».

By parsing through over 100,000 records of creatures found in the CCZ taken during these deep-sea expeditions, Rabone and her co-authors found that only six of the new species found in the CCZ—which include a sea cucumber, a nematode, and a carnivorous sponge—have been seen in other regions. They also found that the most common types of animals in the CCZ are arthropods (invertebratesInvertebrates are animals that do not have a backbone. They make up the majority of the animal kingdom and include animals such as insects, worms, mollusks, and arachnids. Invertebrates are found in almost every habitat on Earth, from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountains. They play important roles in the ecosystem as decomposers, pollinators, and as a food source for other animals. Invertebrates have a wide range of body shapes, sizes, and behaviors, and they have evolved a variety of ways to survive and thrive in their environments." data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]"invertebrates with segmented joints), worms, echinoderms (spiny invertebrates like sea urchins), and sponges./p>