Off the coast of New Zealand lies Bounty Trough, a deep oceanic rift renowned for its abundant marine life. Recently, scientists made a remarkable discovery there, identifying approximately 100 previously unknown species thriving in its depths.
The breakthrough occurred following a three-week expedition led by Ocean Census, a global collaboration initiated by the Nippon Foundation and Nekton, a UK-based ocean exploration entity.
Supported by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Ocean Census conducted extensive exploration of Bounty Trough aboard the Tangaroa research vessel. Their efforts resulted in the collection of nearly 1,800 samples from depths exceeding 15,000 feet.
This comprehensive sampling effort unveiled a surprising diversity of marine life, including a significant number of species previously undocumented by science.
The Newly-Discovered Species From Bounty Trough
"It looks like we have a great haul of new, undiscovered species. By the time all our specimens are examined, we will be north of 100 new species," said Ocean Census' science director Dr. Alex Rogers in a press statement. "But what's really surprised me here is the fact this extends to animals like fish — we think we've got three new species of fish."
Bounty Trough stretches nearly 500 miles along the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island, deriving its name from the nearby Bounty Islands, which, in turn, were christened after the 18th-century British vessel, the HMS Bounty.
Encompassing an area of approximately 38,000 square miles, Bounty Trough remained largely uncharted until recently, leaving its potential biodiversity a mystery to scientists.
"We've gone to lots of different habitats and discovered a whole range of new species, from fish to snails, to corals and sea cucumbers — really interesting species that are going to be new to science," said voyage co-leader and NIWA marine biologist Sadie Mills.
"Ocean Census has enabled us to explore an area of Aotearoa's deep seafloor that we previously knew little about in terms of the animals that live there."
Deep-sea trenches like Bounty Trough harbor a unique array of life forms that have adapted to extreme conditions, including high pressure, darkness, and cold temperatures, resulting in species that may appear strange and otherworldly to us on the surface.
In addition to the discovery of three new fish species within Bounty Trough, researchers encountered a diverse range of other organisms, including mollusks, cephalopods, shrimp, and coral.
One particular discovery stood out, leaving experts puzzled by its unusual characteristics.
Initially, the team encountered a creature in Bounty Trough that they thought might be a sea star or an anemone, but it defied classification within either group, according to Dr. Michela Mitchell, a taxonomist from the Queensland Museum Network.
"We've got a lot of experts here having a look who are very excited," Mitchell said. "We now think it could be a new species of octocoral, but also a new genus. Even more excitingly, it could be a whole new group outside of the octocoral. If it is, that is a significant find for the deep sea and gives us a much clearer picture of the planet's unique biodiversity."
Experts Have 'Barely Scratched The Surface' Of Bounty Trough
The newly discovered species are currently undergoing classification and categorization at NIWA and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, with the aim of officially documenting them in New Zealand's biodiversity records.
"It was a privilege to collaborate with NIWA and Ocean Census. While our findings are significant, we know that we've barely scratched the surface of the Bounty Trough — there's a whole other world of fauna still waiting to be discovered," said Andrew Stuart, a curator of fish at Te Papa.
Several experts expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of finding additional new species in similar oceanic trenches worldwide, suggesting that there may be even more discoveries awaiting exploration.
Despite the excitement surrounding the discoveries, there is still much work to be done in Bounty Trough. However, the success of Ocean Census demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration among international scientists in uncovering the mysteries of the deep sea.
"The partnership with professional scientists from NIWA and Te Papa and the ship's crew from the RV Tangaroa has led to a transformative change in our understanding of this remote part of the ocean and the species that live within it, leaving a fantastic legacy for the people of New Zealand," Rogers said.
