Ocean abyss yields hundreds of discoveries
A new species of Trichopeltarion crab. Photo: CSIRO/AFP
A voyage of discovery by Australian scientists into the uncharted depths of the Southern Ocean has found hundreds of new marine species, the CSIRO says.
The discovery of 274 fish, ancient corals, molluscs, crustaceans and sponges new to science was announced on Wednesday at the CSIRO's Marine and Atmospheric Research unit in Hobart.
The astounding discoveries of creatures never thought to have existed were found in waters up to 3000 metres deep, among scores of extinct volcanoes whose great mountains and canyons provide vital, thriving habitats.
Scientists mapped 80 undersea mountains and 145 canyons, some larger than the Grand Canyon, for the first time.
The finds were made 100 nautical miles south of Tasmania during two two-week CSIRO voyages in November 2006 and April 2007.
New sonar technology, video and water samples were analysed from the Huon Commonwealth Marine Reserve and the Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve.
The discoveries will in some cases force the rewriting of text books, the CSIRO scientists say.
Kate Wilson, director of the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship, said more was known about the surface of Mars than the depths of the world's oceans.
"In Australian waters, for example, more than 40 per cent of the creatures brought to the surface by our scientists on a voyage of discovery have never been seen before," Dr Wilson said.
About 70 per cent of the fish, crustaceans, molluscs, sponges and corals identified on the two voyages are new to science.
Dr Wilson said these discoveries would add to the wider body of CSIRO knowledge aimed at sustaining ocean resources while recognising all ocean life was interconnected.
Video from the deep showed damage to coral thickets caused by commercial fishing.
A live ray, from a species of which only one dead specimen had ever been found in Australian waters, was captured among the 100 hours of underwater vision and 8000 still shots.
A glass sponge, so delicate it could not be brought to the surface without breaking, was discovered along with ancient corals the CSIRO scientists say can grow for up to 2000 years.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who announced the findings in Hobart, said it was an amazing day for Australian science.
"The richness of molluscs found in these voyages has been described by marine scientists as astounding and requiring a complete rewrite of textbooks for this type of fauna," he said.
CSIRO marine expert Nic Bax said only a very small area of Australia's oceans had been explored in this way.
"We have no idea how many species there are, and most of the species we get we only catch once," he said.
In total, 274 species new to science were discovered, along with 86 species previously unknown in Australian waters, the CSIRO says
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