Chinese Team Finds Thriving Ecosystem Below 9km in 7 Indo-Pacific Trenches
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · May 28
Chinese Team Finds Thriving Ecosystem Below 9km in 7 Indo-Pacific Trenches
5 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · May 28
Rocks deeper than 9km in seven Indo-Pacific hadal trenches, fracture zones and basins hosted a rich, previously unknown community of organisms, according to a Chinese-led team.
Fendouzhe dives conducted from 2020 to 2024 uncovered the fauna, which scientists said survives by feeding on organic debris sinking from the ocean surface.
The finding challenges the long-held view that only sparse anemones, sponges or bacteria could endure the crushing pressure, near-freezing temperatures and permanent darkness of the deepest trenches.
Professor Peng Xiaotong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences led the study, published in Science on May 14, pointing to far greater biodiversity in Earth’s least explored ocean zones.
Life in Earth's deepest trenches rewrites biology. Could it also guide our search for life on distant ocean worlds?
A deep-sea 'garden' thrives on surface nutrients. Is this a new ecosystem or a new canary in the coal mine for pollution?
This hidden ecosystem is a massive carbon hotspot. Could it be a secret ally against climate change, or is it too fragile?