Expedition Uncovers Over 50 Potential New Deep-Sea Species in Unexplored Region

A recent scientific expedition to the Salas y Gómez Ridge, led by researcher Ariadna Mechó of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center—Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS), has yielded remarkable discoveries. The expedition, conducted by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, explored the underwater mountains off the coast of Chile, uncovering a plethora of previously unknown deep-sea species.
Among the 160 species observed in this remote and underexplored area, approximately 50 are suspected to be entirely new to science. The diverse array of species identified includes deep-sea corals, glass sponges, sea urchins, squids, fishes, mollusks, crabs, sea stars, and squat lobsters, among others.
Mechó presented the findings of the 40-day scientific cruise, titled “Unexplored Seamounts of the Salas y Gómez Ridge,” at the “Ocean Decade MPA Forum: Progress, obstacles and solutions” event held during the UN Ocean Decade Conference. She highlighted the discovery of one of the deepest mesophotic corals in the world, along with extensive fields of sponges and corals, underscoring the importance of protecting these vulnerable habitats.
The expedition, which took place from February 24 to April 4, involved 25 scientists from 14 organizations across five countries, including the first Rapa Nui marine biologist, Emilia Ra’a Palma Tuki. The Rapa Nui Sea Council supported the expedition, emphasizing the significance of community collaboration in marine research and conservation efforts.
The Salas y Gómez Ridge, a 2,900-kilometer-long underwater mountain chain stretching from offshore Chile to Rapa Nui, hosts an exceptionally biodiverse seafloor ecosystem with high rates of endemism. The region’s rich cultural and maritime heritage, coupled with its ecological importance, underscores the need for international cooperation to protect these pristine habitats.
The Barcelona Supercomputing Center played a crucial role in the expedition by providing climate modeling data to understand the distribution of key species and assess their vulnerability to future changes. The ultimate goal is to designate the Salas y Gómez Ridge as an ecologically and biologically significant marine area and prioritize it for international protection.
This expedition, along with a previous campaign focused on the junction between the Salas y Gómez and the Nazca Ridge, has collectively discovered over 100 new species and emphasized the urgency of establishing a blue corridor along these underwater mountain chains. Such efforts aim to create one of the world’s largest high-seas marine protected areas, safeguarding these unique and fragile ecosystems for future generations.

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