A mollusk discovered in the Antarctic abyss

Scientists have recently discovered Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) living and foraging at a depth of 3,000 meters in the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. So far, this shrimp-like crustacean is thought to live only in shallow waters. This discovery completely changes scientists' understanding of the main food source of fish, squid, penguins, seals and whales.

In a report in Current Biology, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey Organization (BAS) and the National Oceanographic Center, Southampton (NOCS) describe how they used a diving device. Remote control (RoV) called Isis to spin the habit of krill that was not previously known.

Most of the molluscs live on the ocean surface, this new discovery makes us look carefully at our understanding of division, says British Andrew Antarctic Professor Professor Andrew Clarke. father and ecological environment of Antarctic mollusks in the depths . It is surprising to observe adult mollusks, including those about to lay eggs, live in the deep sea.

Antarctic krill - Euphausia superba (Photo: Marinebio.org)

Scientists have studied mollusks since the expedition called " Discover " in the early 20th century. Oceanographic exploration, using combination of sound echo techniques and experimental samples, has indicates that most adult mollusks are limited to 150 meters above seawater.

The decision to buy Isis RoV was initiated by NOCS professor Paul A Tyler. He said: 'The use of ROV in Antarctica has given us a rare opportunity to observe mollusks along with the diversity of species living in the seabed with depths from 500 to 3500 m. The important thing about that observation is: We can not only identify different species but also see the relationships between individuals as well as their relationship with the environment. '

This discovery brings important lessons, Clarke continues.'The behavior of marine life - including' primitive 'species - can be more complex and diverse than we thought. There is still a lot to learn about the deep sea world and exploration and exploration play an important role in trying to understand the world we live in. '

Unprecedented footage of undersea mollusks recorded by ROV stored in BAS press room along with the article "Antarctic krill living on the sea floor" by Andrew Clarke and Paul Tyler are posted this week on in Current Biology.

Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ) feeds on phytoplankton, and they become prey to many other animals including fish, penguins, seals and whales. Phytoplankton are the starting point for marine food chains. Thanks to photosynthesis, they can take carbon from carbon dioxide.

Molluscs live in open waters, mainly living in concentrated flocks, reaching the number of individuals in immensely large flocks in Antarctica . Antarctic krill can reach a length of 6 centimeters and has a lifespan of 5 to 6 years. They are one of the largest sources of protein in the world. They can also be caught easily when using large nets to serve human needs. Total mollusk production in Antarctica is estimated at 50 to 150 million tons.

The number of Antarctic krill since the 1970s has decreased by about 80%. The most plausible explanation is the excessive disappearance of ice sheets. Mollusks eating algae below the surface of the ice serve as their shelter. The Antarctic Peninsula - the main breeding ground for krill - has warmed about 2.5 ^o C in the past 50 years, followed by a dizzying drop of ice. We still do not understand clearly and fully the disappearing sea ice is related to the phenomenon of warming, but it can be the answer to the survival of krill.