In the darkest depths of the ocean, scientists have discovered that deep-sea creatures are not just surviving in extreme conditions but actively shaping their environment through burrowing and bioturbation. A new study published in Nature Communications reveals how animals living beneath the seafloor are creating pathways for other life to thrive.
Researchers from the Geological Survey of Finland analyzed sediment cores from the Japan Trench, off the coast of Honshu, to understand how life adapts to the harsh conditions at depths of up to 7.5 kilometers. The team found that even in these extreme environments, a surprising variety of life exists, including holothurians, polychaetes, and bivalves.
Bioturbation, an engineering process carried out by animals or plants, plays a crucial role in the ecosystem’s functioning. By burrowing through sediment, creatures oxygenate and irrigate it, affecting nutrient cycles and ultimately how the ecosystem functions. The study suggests that deep-sea communities are more diverse than previously thought, with various species thriving in this environment.
The researchers used X-rays to scan the sediment cores, which revealed a sequence of inhabitants that dwelled within them. They found that as the turbidity current slowed down at the bottom of the trench, its sediment particle cloud condensed, creating an opportunity for opportunistic benthic species to colonize the new nutrient-rich and oxygenated bottom sediment.
The findings have implications for our understanding of life in extreme environments, including the possibility of life on other planets. The discovery of macroscopic life beneath the seafloor last year has sparked interest in exploring subsurface oceans on moons like Europa and Enceladus.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/deep-sea-creatures-are-crafting-their-own-worlds-beneath-the-ocean-floor-study-finds-2000564906