The-Wolf
Ex-LFS manager/ keeper of over 30 danio species
I just thought this might be of interest to some of you. 
"Sea bed reveals new monsters from the deep
By Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent
TENS of thousands of species of marine life, including previously unknown types of fish and squid, have been discovered in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean by one of the most extensive underwater surveys conducted.
Researchers observed one “very strange animal” on the bottom of the ocean that may even belong to a new phylum — the grouping of organisms one level below the animal and plant kingdoms.
The Norwegian-led Mid-Atlantic Ridge Ecology expedition spent two months mapping the ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain range that stretches almost 4,000 miles from Iceland to the Azores.
The research involved 60 scientists from 13 countries, including Britain. More than 80,000 specimens, including several that appear to be new to science, were collected. The most remarkable finds include a new type of deep-sea angler fish that attracts its prey with a unique “lure”, and two unusual varieties of squid that could be new species.
Another discovery was a series of mysterious burrows on the ocean floor that resemble stitches made by a sewing machine. The lines of evenly spaced 5cm holes have never been seen before, and may have been made by an unidentified species of crustacean.
The results are among the first to emerge from the Census of Marine Life, a ten-year, $1 billion (£550 million) international project to create the first comprehensive map of the biodiversity of the world’s seas.
Organisers expect the census to add tens of thousands of species to the 210,000 forms of marine life that are already known to science: more than 99 per cent of the oceans have yet to be fully explored.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge region, which has barely been investigated before, was explored using robotic submersibles, advanced echo-location technology and trawl nets.
What used to be thought to be a largely desolate expanse of deep ocean has been shown to be teeming with an unexpected diversity of life. The research has identified approximately 300 species of fish, 50 types of squid and octopus, and an undetermined number of plankton species.
At least five of these species are thought to be new, although further investigations are needed to confirm this. Scientists were also surprised to detect vast circular swarms of plankton, the largest of their kind ever found.
Each measured more than 6 miles (10km) across. Odd Aksel Bergstad, the expedition’s lead scientist, said: “We inhabit the Blue Planet, but our knowledge of life underneath the blue surfaces of the ocean remains surprisingly limited.
“Investigations of marine life have just begun, and it’s only now, when we can utilise custom-built research ships and the finest modern technology, that we can learn how ecosystems in the oceans are structured and function.”
The strange burrows on the sea floor continues to puzzle the research team."
"Sea bed reveals new monsters from the deep
By Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent
TENS of thousands of species of marine life, including previously unknown types of fish and squid, have been discovered in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean by one of the most extensive underwater surveys conducted.
Researchers observed one “very strange animal” on the bottom of the ocean that may even belong to a new phylum — the grouping of organisms one level below the animal and plant kingdoms.
The Norwegian-led Mid-Atlantic Ridge Ecology expedition spent two months mapping the ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain range that stretches almost 4,000 miles from Iceland to the Azores.
The research involved 60 scientists from 13 countries, including Britain. More than 80,000 specimens, including several that appear to be new to science, were collected. The most remarkable finds include a new type of deep-sea angler fish that attracts its prey with a unique “lure”, and two unusual varieties of squid that could be new species.
Another discovery was a series of mysterious burrows on the ocean floor that resemble stitches made by a sewing machine. The lines of evenly spaced 5cm holes have never been seen before, and may have been made by an unidentified species of crustacean.
The results are among the first to emerge from the Census of Marine Life, a ten-year, $1 billion (£550 million) international project to create the first comprehensive map of the biodiversity of the world’s seas.
Organisers expect the census to add tens of thousands of species to the 210,000 forms of marine life that are already known to science: more than 99 per cent of the oceans have yet to be fully explored.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge region, which has barely been investigated before, was explored using robotic submersibles, advanced echo-location technology and trawl nets.
What used to be thought to be a largely desolate expanse of deep ocean has been shown to be teeming with an unexpected diversity of life. The research has identified approximately 300 species of fish, 50 types of squid and octopus, and an undetermined number of plankton species.
At least five of these species are thought to be new, although further investigations are needed to confirm this. Scientists were also surprised to detect vast circular swarms of plankton, the largest of their kind ever found.
Each measured more than 6 miles (10km) across. Odd Aksel Bergstad, the expedition’s lead scientist, said: “We inhabit the Blue Planet, but our knowledge of life underneath the blue surfaces of the ocean remains surprisingly limited.
“Investigations of marine life have just begun, and it’s only now, when we can utilise custom-built research ships and the finest modern technology, that we can learn how ecosystems in the oceans are structured and function.”
The strange burrows on the sea floor continues to puzzle the research team."
