Deep-sea creatures reveal hidden global connections

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Museums Victoria Research Institute in Australia has uncovered astonishing interconnections among marine species living in the deep ocean. The research focused on brittle stars, a group of marine animals closely related to starfish. The team analyzed DNA from almost 2,700 brittle star specimens collected from various research expeditions and housed in 48 natural history museums worldwide. This analysis indicated that these creatures have crossed vast oceans over millions of years, creating invisible links that connect ecosystems separated by thousands of kilometers, such as those in Iceland and Southern Australia. Tim O'Hara, the lead author of the study, emphasized that the deep sea, often perceived as remote, functions as a vast superhighway facilitating the migration of these species. The study also highlighted the biological mechanisms that allow brittle stars to thrive in the deep sea. Unlike shallow-water life forms that face temperature constraints, the deep-sea environments remain stable, enabling species to disperse over great distances. Brittle stars produce yolk-rich larvae that can drift for extended periods on deep-sea currents, allowing them to colonize distant regions without fins or wings. Despite the interconnectedness indicated by this research, the study warns of the fragility of deep-sea ecosystems. Historical extinction events, environmental shifts, and geographical changes have produced a patchwork of biodiversity on the ocean floor. As threats from deep-sea mining and climate change continue to increase, understanding the distribution and movement of life in these environments is crucial for their protection.