Research in marine areas with depths of up to 11 kilometers (the hadal zone) in the Pacific Ocean has uncovered 7,564 microbial species, 89.4% of which were discovered for the first time, as well as amphipods, fish, and human waste, including plastic bags, beer bottles, soda cans, and even a laundry basket. The study was published on March 6 in Cell.
Hadal zones are characterized by high pressure, darkness, and very cold temperatures, making life difficult. However, amphipods survive there by coexisting with bacteria, while fish have undergone genetic mutations to adapt.
Researchers used the innovative Chinese submarine Fendouzhe to dive over 10.9 kilometers below the sea surface and collect hundreds of biological samples from the hadal zone in the Yap Trench, the Philippine Basin, and the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.
Amphipods are a type of crustacean, similar to very small shrimp, with a size of about 1 cm
“Extremely high levels of innovation, diversity, and heterogeneity were observed in the microbiome of the hadal zone, particularly among prokaryotes and viruses, influenced by both the extreme environmental conditions and the sensitive topography of the hadal zones,” the researchers say.
The study also estimates when certain marine species first descended to such depths. For example, the researchers suggest that eels likely colonized the deep seas around 100 million years ago, a key factor in their survival of the meteorite impact that nearly wiped out the dinosaurs and decimated marine life in shallower waters.
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