Gli scienziati scoprono cinquemila nuove specie nell'Oceano Pacifico

Da Cell Press7 giugno 2023

Una selezione di esemplari di acque profonde dalla collezione del museo. Credito: amministratori del Museo di storia naturale di Londra

The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a massive area in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of India and rich in minerals, has been parceled out to various companies for impending deep-sea mining. To gain insights into what could be jeopardized once mining operations begin, a group of biologists has constructed the first "CCZ checklist." This checklist encompasses all the speciesA species is a group of living organisms that share a set of common characteristics and are able to breed and produce fertile offspring. The concept of a species is important in biology as it is used to classify and organize the diversity of life. There are different ways to define a species, but the most widely accepted one is the biological species concept, which defines a species as a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce viable offspring in nature. This definition is widely used in evolutionary biology and ecology to identify and classify living organisms." data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]">record di specie accumulati da precedenti viaggi di ricerca in questa regione.

Their research, which was recently published in the journal Current BiologyCurrent Biology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published biweekly by Cell Press. It is focused on all aspects of biology, from molecular biology and genetics to ecology and evolutionary biology. The journal covers a wide range of topics, including cellular biology, neuroscience, animal behavior, plant biology, and more. Current Biology is known for its high-impact research articles, as well as its insightful commentary, analysis, and reviews of the latest developments in the field. It is widely read by scientists and researchers in biology and related fields, and has a reputation for publishing groundbreaking research that advances our understanding of the natural world." data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]"> Current Biology, ha identificato un totale di 5.578 specie uniche all'interno della CCZ. Sorprendentemente, si stima che tra l’88% e il 92% di queste specie siano completamente nuove per la scienza.

"Condividiamo questo pianeta con tutta questa straordinaria biodiversità e abbiamo la responsabilità di comprenderla e proteggerla", ha affermato Muriel Rabone, ecologista delle profondità marine presso il Museo di storia naturale di Londra, Regno Unito.

Con un'estensione di sei milioni di chilometri quadrati dalle Hawaii al Messico, la CCZ è una delle regioni selvagge più incontaminate dell'oceano globale. Per studiarlo, i ricercatori sfidano l'Oceano Pacifico in crociere di ricerca che impiegano tecniche di campionamento che vanno da quelle tecniche, come veicoli telecomandati che attraversano il fondo dell'oceano, a quelle semplici, come una scatola robusta che atterra sul fondo (denominata "" campionamento del nucleo della scatola").

"È una grande barca, ma sembra piccola in mezzo all'oceano. Potresti vedere le tempeste che si avvicinano; è molto drammatico", ha detto Rabone. "Ed è stato sorprendente: in ogni singolo campione di scatola, vedremmo nuove specie."

By parsing through over 100,000 records of creatures found in the CCZ taken during these deep-sea expeditions, Rabone and her co-authors found that only six of the new species found in the CCZ—which include a sea cucumber, a nematode, and a carnivorous sponge—have been seen in other regions. They also found that the most common types of animals in the CCZ are arthropods (invertebratesInvertebrates are animals that do not have a backbone. They make up the majority of the animal kingdom and include animals such as insects, worms, mollusks, and arachnids. Invertebrates are found in almost every habitat on Earth, from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountains. They play important roles in the ecosystem as decomposers, pollinators, and as a food source for other animals. Invertebrates have a wide range of body shapes, sizes, and behaviors, and they have evolved a variety of ways to survive and thrive in their environments." data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]"invertebrates with segmented joints), worms, echinoderms (spiny invertebrates like sea urchins), and sponges./p>