Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the Atacama Trench, a near-vertical wall in the eastern South Pacific Ocean that plunges to depths exceeding 8,000 meters. A new study published in Systematics and Biodiversity has identified a large, active predatory amphipod species, named Dulcibella camanchaca, which is the first of its kind from these extreme depths.
The species was discovered by researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO), based at the Universidad de Concepción, Chile. The amphipod measures nearly 4 centimeters in length and uses specialized appendages to capture smaller prey in the food-limited realm of the trench.
Located beneath nutrient-rich surface waters and geographically remote from other hadal environments, the Atacama Trench hosts a distinctive community of native species. The discovery highlights the importance of continued deep-ocean exploration, particularly in Chile’s front yard, as scientists anticipate uncovering more species that offer insights into the evolutionary pressures and adaptations unique to the deep ocean.
The study’s findings contribute to broader efforts to understand deep-ocean ecosystems and protect them from emerging threats, such as pollution and climate change. The discovery of Dulcibella camanchaca is a significant addition to the puzzle of how life has evolved and thrives in one of Earth’s most extreme environments, adding crucial pieces to our understanding of this unique ecosystem.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2024-12-ocean-predator-atacama-trench.html