Abundant Life Found on Seamounts Off Chile’s Coast
An international group of scientists, led by Dr. Javier Sellanes of the Universidad Católica del Norte, may have discovered more than 100 new species living on seamounts off the coast of Chile. The recent Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition resulted in finding deep-sea corals, glass sponges, sea urchins, amphipods, squat lobsters, and other species likely new to science.The team explored seamounts along the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridge, both inside and outside Chile’s jurisdiction, to collect data that could support the designation of an international high-seas marine protected area.
Voyis Provides Subsea Tech for Galápagos Coral Expedition
underwater technology company Voyis has worked on a scientific expedition with Memorial University of Newfoundland in the Galápagos Islands, exploring and documenting the enigmatic world of cold-water coral ecosystem.The expedition, led by Chief Scientist Katleen Robert, was funded by Schmidt Ocean Institute, and also included the participation of the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos National Park.The Galápagos Islands, renowned for their unique biodiversity, are home to a multitude of cold-water corals, including those residing in vertical habitats.Taking place from
DISCOVERY: High-Res Mapping Tech Helps Find New Hydrothermal Vent Field
Scientists use high-resolution mapping technologies to find new hydrothermal vents inside the Galápagos Marine Reserve, as well as 15 species not previously known to live within the region.A research team aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too) discovered a new high-temperature hydrothermal vent field that hosts several 10- to 15-meter-tall actively venting chimney clusters. The vent field, named “Tortugas” by the science team and Ecuadorian observers, stretches more than 600 meters along the western edge of the caldera floor of the Los Huellos East
Massive Seamount Discovered in Waters Off Guatemala
Seafloor mapping during a Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition has revealed an underwater mountain twice as high as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, in international waters off Guatemala.The 1,600-meter (5,249-foot) seamount covers 14 square kilometers and sits 2,400 meters below sea level. Using the EM124 multibeam echosounder on Schmidt Ocean Institute’s exploration and research vessel Falkor (too), the seafloor feature was discovered 84 nautical miles outside the Guatemalan Exclusive Economic Zone during a six-day crossing this summer from Puntarenas, Costa Rica, towards
SOI Steps Ahead on Ocean Mapping
With its new research vessel Falkor (too), Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) has ramped up its ability to map the ocean floor. Jyotika I. Virmani, Ph.D. Executive Director, SOI, offers insights on how new and emerging meld with onboard and shoreside crew to make exploration and discovery more efficient and effective.Jyotika, to start, can you give us a ‘By the Numbers’ look at SOI today?We recently donated our original vessel, Falkor, to Italy in 2022. In the last 10 years of operating Falkor when we had 81 expeditions, with over 1,800 days of science at sea. And we hosted over a thousand
New Hydrothermal Vent Found Near Galápagos
Scientists on a Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition have discovered a new hydrothermal vent field larger than a professional soccer field. The vent field found in the Pacific Ocean off the Western Galápagos Islands consists of five geyser-like chimneys and three hot springs. The hottest water temperature recorded was 288 degrees Celsius (550 degrees Fhrenheit).The American and Ecuadorian research team on R/V Falkor (too), led by Dr. Roxanne Beinart of the University of Rhode Island and Dr. Jill McDermott from Lehigh University, detected chemical signatures of the 9,178 square meter (98
SOI Says New Ecosystems Found Beneath Hyrdrothermal Vents
A new ecosystem has been discovered in volcanic caves beneath hydrothermal vents at a well-studied undersea volcano on the East Pacific Rise off Central America. The landmark 30-day expedition aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too) was led by Dr. Monika Bright, University of Vienna, along with an international science team from the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Costa Rica, and Slovenia.Using an underwater robot, the science team overturned chunks of volcanic crust, discovering cave systems teeming with worms, snails, and chemosynthetic bacteria
Expedition Taps New Tech to Check Deep-Sea Coral Health
Scientists aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's R/V Falkor (too) have returned from an expedition to study the impact of climate change on deep water corals. Scientists from the mainland U.S. and Puerto Rico found greater biodiversity than previously known in Puerto Rican waters and may have identified several suspected new species of corals, collecting over 300 samples across 75 different species. Research will be conducted in the coming months to identify and name any new species.The 20-day expedition included researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Lehigh University
Corals Make Light Work of Photosynthesis Despite Lack of Sunshine
way corals receive and recycle nutrients is species-specific. Understanding how different species survive in different environmental conditions is crucial for managing the conservation of coral reef, particularly given the threat of climate change.”The study was conducted as part of the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s 2021 expedition to Ashmore Reef, on board the research vessel R/V FALKOR in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Western Australian Museum. Samples were collected by a remotely operated vehicle named Subastian.Published in Frontiers in Marine Science
February 2024
