© Emiliano Arano/Pexels
Scientists working aboard the Falkor (too), a research vessel belonging to the Schmidt Ocean Institute, were amazed during their exploration. Set out to collect samples in the East Pacific Ridge, their expedition ended up being more interesting than expected.
They discovered giant tubeworms (Riftia pachyptila) thriving in a rather extreme environment, since this area is very active from a volcanic point of view. The results of their observations were compiled in the journal Nature Communications.
Perfectly adapted giants
It was thanks to the Subastian submersible vehicle (a remote-controlled submarine), sent to a depth of 2,500 meters, that they found these worms, populating natural cavities ten centimeters under the oceanic crust.
However, these marine organisms, which can grow to a staggering three meters in size, are not simple worms. Their bodies house an atrophied digestive system, replaced by a specialized organ called a trophosome. This unique adaptation allows them to host billions of symbiotic bacteria that are their only source of nutrition.
In these cavities where the temperature reaches 25°C, the bacteria carry out a process called chemosynthesis. They use the hydrogen sulfide present in hydrothermal fluids (hot, mineralized waters that circulate in the Earth's crust), transforming it into organic compounds essential for the worms' survival. This sophisticated symbiotic relationship allows Riftia to live without any dependence on sunlight or photosynthesis.
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A New Understanding of Deep-Sea Ecosystems
Scientists have discovered that these communities are part of a complex ecological network connecting three levels: the open ocean, the seafloor, and the subsurface ocean. The microscopic larvae of these worms, transported by hydrothermal currents, gradually colonize these underground habitats, thus creating a “biomass layer“.
We already knew about this layer, but scientists never thought it could host such complex ecosystems. This means that it has yet to be fully studied. This could potentially be home to thousands of as yet unknown species and play an important role in protecting the seabed.
Unfortunately, this discovery is overshadowed by an imminent threat: deep-sea mining projects. These industrial activities, aimed at extracting precious minerals from the seabed, risk seriously disrupting, or even destroying, this ecosystem. The dredging, sediment discharges and noise pollution associated with these operations could have disastrous consequences for this environment. It is therefore urgent to become aware of the importance of protecting it so that it does not suffer the same fate as the Great Barrier Reef.
- Scientists have discovered giant worms in the Pacific Ocean.
- They live in underwater cavities and are part of a layer of complex organisms living under the Earth's crust.
- This layer is unfortunately already threatened by mining operations.
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