Exotic marine life discovered in Antarctic waters

A HIDDEN universe of exotic marine life has been discovered in the ocean depths around Antarctica.

Researchers uncovered more than 700 new species, including crustaceans, molluscs, free swimming worms and carnivorous sponges.

The creatures came to light as an international team scoured the sea floor at depths of more than 20,000 feet below the Southern Ocean.

Three sampling expeditions were mounted in the Weddell Sea as part of the Antarctic benthic deep-sea biodiversity (ANDEEP) project.

They revealed an unexpected richness of diversity that took scientists by surprise. Among the specimens were 674 shrimp-like isopods, 80% of which were new to science.

Creatures living in the deepest regions appeared to have strong links with species from other oceans.

A key question still to be answered is whether shallow water species colonised the deep ocean, or vice versa.

The findings, reported today in the journal Nature, suggest that the glacial cycle of advancing and retreating ice has led to a mingling of species from shallow and deep water habitats.

Marine biologist Dr Katrin Linse, from the British Antarctic Survey, said: “What was once thought to be a featureless abyss is in fact a dynamic, variable and biologically rich environment.”

Experts from 14 research organisations conducted the surveys from the German research ship Polarstern between 2002 and 2005.

Biological specimens were collected from depths of between 2,540ft and 21,800ft. Professor Angelika Brandt, from the University of Hamburg in Germany, who led the research, said: “The Antarctic deep sea is potentially the cradle of life of the global marine species.

“We now have a better understanding in the evolution of the marine species.”