Scientists Have Found A Whole New World Beneath The Pacific Ocean and Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Scientists have discovered a whole new planet beneath the Pacific Ocean.This is seen as a great breakthrough in ecology, considering that 70% of the ocean is yet to be discovered; scientists are progressing flourishly to make new discoveries each day. To find out what was hiding below, underwater robots were sent tonscrape away layers of the seafloor. These robots, sent by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, found a new environment full of unidentified creatures after removing the layers.

On the East Pacific Rise off the coast of Central America, the research team was examining hydrothermal vents. The discovery of these hydrothermal vents, or deep-sea hot springs, dates back to 1977. Despite the harsh temperatures and lack of sunshine, a lot of life is drawn to the mineral-rich water. Nobody has considered looking underneath them before recently.

The researchers discovered cave networks full of an underground fluid by turning over pieces of the sea bottom using a robotic arm. Worms, snails, miniscule larvae, and bacteria are thriving in the maze formed by a network of cracks and fissures.

The species in the East Pacific Rise were the first to be studied by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. When a new hydrothermal vent appears, the ecosystem rapidly follows as animals colonize an area within a few years. Numerous deep-sea volcanoes that originated on the tectonic plate boundary may be found on the rise. The region is a hotspot for biodiversity despite the gloomy, frigid weather because of microorganisms that transform minerals from the thermal springs into carbohydrates that other creatures may consume.

 Similarly, due to these ever-increasing temperatures of the springs, these bacteria have adapted themselves to survive such harsh conditions, for instance their enzymes denature at a high temperature range. 

A few species found in this biome include: tubeworms, snails and chemosynthetic bacteria. One of the most prosperous species around the vents are giant tube worms. They would resurface at freshly generated hydrothermal vents even when volcanic activity seemed to wipe them away.

The fact that only adult tube worms were frequently observed by researchers near the vents added to the enigma. The scientists started to think that the larvae were emerging from seafloor fissures.

There are also signs that some microbes as well as plants on the sea bed use chemical energy to create their own food without sunlight, disabling them to do photosynthesis. They make their sugars through a process known as ‘Chemosynthesis’. 

“On land we have long known of animals living in cavities underground, and in the ocean of animals living in sand and mud, but for the first time, scientists have looked for animals beneath hydrothermal vents,” says Jyotika Virmani—executive director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. 

Deep-sea mining targets the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is located in international waters commonly referred to as "The High Seas." Not only is the Pacific Ocean discovered for its hydrothermal vents, but recently The Mid-Atlantic Ridge has been found with three new hydrothermal vent fields, which could potentially be habitual for the species living there. 

"The discoveries on this expedition underscore how much we have yet to learn about deep sea ecosystems—-and why, before marching ahead with mining or other potentially damaging activities, we need to learn more about our unknown ocean.”, said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder and president of Schmidt Ocean Institute.

Written By: Emaan Shoaib