Deep-sea Expedition Discovers Potential New Species

An offshore canyon in Argentinian waters, Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon, that’s twice as deep as the Grand Canyon recently turned up potential new-to-science species when scientists embarked on the first-ever high-tech dive to the region. Using the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s remotely operated vehicle, ROV SuBastian, the expedition was livestreamed as it captured alien-looking squids, Barbie-pink lobsters, a lumbering king crab carrying 100 hitchhiking barnacles, and a "Patrick Star" lookalike sea star with some serious junk in the trunk, if you know what we mean. 

Sounds like quite the adventure, right? Well, it would seem nearly 4 million people agree with you, as the livestream of the Argentinian-led expedition on board Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) proved to be a smash hit. 

“The deep sea and its awe-inspiring life – from bright corals to mesmerizing octopuses – has captivated an entire nation, thanks to a team of passionate scientists and the millions of people watching their work, via livestream”, said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder and president of Schmidt Ocean Institute, in a statement. “Argentina is showing the world the power of deep-sea exploration to not only spark wonder, but to remind us how much of our planet remains to be discovered and protected”. 

The expedition marked the first time we’ve been able to dive into the Mar del Plata Canyon – which at 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) deep is twice the depth of the Grand Canyon – and get a good look around using a high-tech ROV. The sophisticated sampling tools and cameras onboard SuBastian have provided an unprecedented glimpse into this biodiversity treasure trove, so it’s hardly surprising that the 21-day expedition may have discovered around 40 new-to-science species. 

The work now begins to confirm that, but here’s a delicious highlights reveal of what SuBastian saw on its travels:

 

“This expedition has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, and I’m honored to share it with colleagues I’ve worked with for a decade”, said Chief Scientist Dr Daniel Lauretta of CONICET and Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia. “It’s my first time getting to work with an ROV. The image quality captured by ROV SuBastian has been outstanding and helps us better understand the complexity of this habitat and the remarkable biodiversity it supports”.

Beyond being a treat for the eyes, the data collected from the expedition can contribute to conservation management for the region. Already, we’ve seen evidence that humans are having an influence on deep-sea canyon environments, as the team spotted shoes, plastic bags, and fishing gear in SuBastian’s footage. Fingers crossed, we can come together to do better for the Barbie lobsters and Patrick Star, the big-bootied sea star. 

“This cruise underscores the power of ocean exploration and science in igniting the imagination”, said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director, Dr Jyotika Virmani. “It was inspiring for us to see Argentinians fall in love with their own deep sea, and we are grateful to the science team, who balanced the demands of seagoing science with their passion to share their research with millions”.