“We have recently completed analysis of a massive sample set from 2011, which NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) used in their damage assessment,” commented DEEPEND Director, Tracey Sutton. Not much is known about ocean life living between 1,000 and 4,000 meters (roughly 3,300-13,100 feet), but one thing is certain: the biodiversity is staggering. Most of the organisms that appear in the photographs below were found in the bathypelagic zone, an enigmatic slice of ocean also called the Midnight Zone. Research expeditions aboard ships, often called cruises (not to be mistaken with a luxury vacation), provide an opportunity for scientists to take samples at different ocean depths using nets, remotely operated vehicles, and other technologies. Deep-water habitats were most affected by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010 because that is where the oil leak occurred and where much of the oil settled. One of DEEPEND’s primary objectives is to discover and document animals that live in the deep sea. Given the likelihood of future spills, researchers faced a race against time to grow their understanding of deep-sea environments and the services they provide to the larger ecosystem. After the spill, scientists were severely limited in their ability to estimate the amount of damage to the ecosystem since hardly any baseline data existed for comparison. The DEEPEND (Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamic of the Gulf of Mexico) Consortium is a research effort created in response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010 and the lack of pre-spill data available for deep-water habitats. The deep sea is home to some of the most outlandish animals on the planet. There are 80 species alone of these miniature sea monsters in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the biggest dragonfish hotspots in the world.Īnd if you think that dragonfish-the estranged cousins to an otherwise normal-looking fish family-are an anomaly, think again. The same can’t be said for the deep sea, which is filled with more species than you might expect.įor example, what do you think is the most diverse group of animals in the Gulf of Mexico? You might instinctively choose from the smorgasbord of critters listed above. These creatures spend most of their lives in shallow water, and locals and scientists alike have a pretty good understanding of what’s living there. Crawfish and shrimp boils, where spiced seafood is thrown straight on a newspaper-covered table, are a way of life. The Gulf of Mexico coastal region is known for its seafood-shrimp, spiny lobsters, crawfish and oysters just to name a few.
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