Deep-sea creatures have been found to thrive in the Japan Trench, a 5-mile-deep chasm located off the east coast of Japan. Scientists have made groundbreaking discoveries about these creatures’ behavior and habitat, revealing intricate burrow structures and evidence of regular “reset” events that provide them with oxygen and nutrients.
Researchers used X-ray scans to study sediment cores from the bottom of the Japan Trench, which revealed extensive animal-burrow structures for the first time. These creatures use worm-like organisms and sea cucumbers to dig into the sediment, feeding on nutrient-rich material. The team found that regular deliveries of sediment from above are crucial for their survival and regeneration.
The study’s findings suggest that these deep-sea creatures play a significant role in supporting diverse benthic communities in trenches, which are more dynamic than surrounding abyssal plains. The researchers also discovered that sea cucumbers are key players in the colonization process, feeding on nutrients and oxygen released after sediment falls to the bottom of the trench.
This new research provides evidence that life thrives even in the deepest parts of the ocean, challenging previous assumptions about the harsh conditions in this environment.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/rivers-oceans/strange-corkscrew-burrows-and-other-unexpected-structures-discovered-4-7-miles-deep-in-the-japan-trench