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Researchers exploring the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean have identified 5,578 species, with 88% to 92% being new to science. As this vast area, larger than India and rich in minerals, prepares for deep-sea mining, understanding its unique biodiversity becomes critical. A recent publication in Current Biology presents the first comprehensive checklist of CCZ species, based on extensive data gathered from prior research voyages.
Muriel Rabone from the Natural History Museum London highlights the responsibility to protect this remarkable biodiversity, which thrives in one of the ocean’s most pristine environments. Utilizing diverse techniques, including advanced remote-controlled vehicles and simpler sampling methods, researchers have uncovered an array of unique organisms, including sea cucumbers, nematodes, and carnivorous sponges, with many species not observed elsewhere.
The study underscores the urgent need for collaborative research efforts to explore and understand the connections between these newly discovered species and their environment, especially in light of potential mining activities. Rabone stresses the importance of studying these largely unexplored habitats to protect the extraordinary life forms found in the CCZ.
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