“Pristine” deep-water corals are likely thousands of years old

The reef is likely thousands of years old and is home to creatures such as shrimp, brittle stars (a relative of starfish), squid and other animals.

Unlike warm, shallow-water corals that feed on sunlight, deep-water corals are cool, dark, and deep. These coral reefs range in temperature from 39 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can be found in deep ocean areas around the world. Although less studied than their shallow counterparts, these reefs are just as well belief To be home to the majority of all coral species.

Because they are so dark and remote, coral reefs have not been as studied as their warm-water relatives despite providing massive animal habitats. Only a quarter of the ocean floor remains She was appointed To a resolution high enough to allow sustainable ocean management and research. New maps made in the latest research mission are of high enough resolution to identify organisms on the seafloor – information that will benefit future research, management of the reserve’s waters and animal populations.

These discoveries follow a previous discovery in April, when scientists discovered… It was identified for the first time Deep-sea coral reef in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

Stuart Banks, a senior marine scientist at the Charles Darwin Foundation, said: “Finding such deep, long-lived corals takes us important steps closer to protecting hidden dimensions of ocean diversity and understanding the role deep habitats play in maintaining the health of our oceans.” which funds conservation research in the Galapagos Islands, said in a press release.

The multidisciplinary expedition was part of an ongoing journey Pay To better understand the region’s deepwater ecosystem.