The underwater mountains off the coast of Chile are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems scientists have ever seen. Researchers who have been exploring said ecosystems have found almost 50 species that are possibly new to the scientific community. The most notable being the squat lobster, an animal in the same family as hermit crabs; they also found bright red sea toads, a deep-sea dragonfish, and almost 160 other species never previously seen in the region. Some animals will take advantage of the elevation in these biodiversity hotspots, while others will live in the valleys or nooks and crannies for protection. There are ten separate mountainous peaks, ranging 2,900 kilometers off the coast, and 110 sea mounts containing their diverse communities.
Among the fascinating finds, the research team encountered siphonophores, a marvel of nature. These creatures, colonies of single-celled organisms, have an individual nervous system but share a circulatory system. Some of these siphonophores, possibly the longest recorded, stretch over 40 meters. Another intriguing aspect of this region is the clarity of the water, allowing sunlight to penetrate deeper. This unique environment supports a few deep-sea creatures that still rely on photosynthesis, one of which resides 350 meters below sea level.
This is a huge discovery for the scientific community and should be celebrated and researched more. I enjoy reading about science because researchers and scientists have good intentions and don’t seek to destroy the environment like governments and big corporations. They provide information while preserving the environment and learning about these animals has always hooked me, but I think a big concern is that big corporations would take advantage of these new species and the biodiversity in the region for hunting and resources; instead, there are two main thoughts. First, this region still belongs to Chile, and the hope is that they won’t seek to destroy this ecosystem. Second, because of this, big corporations only have the rights the Chilean government grants.