Toronto — Several specimens of marine life thought to be new to the scientific community were collected by researchers during a two-month “epic” study of life in the mid-Atlantic.
A report on the multinational study of marine life ecosystems in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Ridge between Iceland and the Azores, one of the least explored areas on the planet, was released Thursday.
The Norwegian-led MAR-ECO expedition was part of a 10-year, $1-billion Census of Marine Life and involved scientists from 16 countries, including Canada.
“This Mid-Atlantic Ridge Ecosystems project is destined to become an epic marine expedition,” said Ron O'Dor, chief scientist for the census and a biology professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax. “It's looked at more water in more detail than any previous cruise that I'm aware of.”
A handout photo of a deep-sea anglerfish with an unusual head structure and uniquely formed 'lure' at the end of the fishing apparatus that sets it apart from other known species. (Tracey Sutton/CP)
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The researchers collected more than 80,000 specimens, which have yielded suspected new species of squid and deep-water fish.
“We focused on fish and squids, octopods and also a range of zoo plankton,” said Odd Aksel Bergstad, principal investigator of the MAR-ECO project and senior scientist with the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, Norway.
Looking at only squids and octopods, the researchers have recorded about 50 species and believe they have found two new kinds of squid.
“One group of squid is so rare that no specimen had been seen since the Challenger expedition 100 years ago,” Mr. O'Dor said.
This expedition began in early June on the Norwegian-built G.O. Sars vessel, which used sophisticated echo-sounding equipment to examine life in the water column surrounding the ridge.
Echo-sounding works by using the reflections of sound waves to identify animals and landmarks underwater. The scientists also relied on a deep-trawling vessel and remotely operated vehicles – underwater robots with video cameras – to collect physical and photographic samples three kilometres down into the water column.
“This is an attempt to gain new knowledge of animal communities living on these mid-ocean ridges,” Mr. Bergstad said. “The study has a goal to enhance our understanding of occurrence, distribution and ecology of animals along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.”
Mr. O'Dor said the MAR-ECO expeditions are challenging for the researchers.
“People have likened trying to trawl in these waters to trying to catch a butterfly in the jungle with a net that's three kilometres long,” he said, adding that the results have been remarkable.
Mr. Bergstad said the species of fish in the region appear to be highly diverse.
“We have recorded almost 180 mid-water fishes,” he said. “And that number is bound to increase, probably well beyond 200. And we've recorded 87 different near-bottom fishes.”
The material and data collected during the expedition are likely to provide researchers with new discoveries for years to come, he said.
“We know so little about the communities and animals living deeper than a thousand metres,” he said.
The scientists now face an extensive period of comparison and analysis to verify the potentially new species.
The information from the project will also be used by management organizations and governments in decision-making that affects international waters.
“The Census of Marine Life tries to be a broker of honest information,” Mr. O'Dor said. “The census is focused on trying to walk that narrow line between the commercial interests and the conservation organizations.”
Like any exploratory survey, the scientists are finding they have more questions now than when they set out.
“We have almost only scratched the surface,” Mr. Bergstad said. “There's a lot more that could be done. But it's getting more and more exciting the more we find out.”
