Mapping the 26 atolls surrounding the Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, is a scientific task discovered by chance. An ecosystem like no other, 500 meters below the sea. Dubbed the “Trap Zone” by the team, something like the “trap zone”, the community of living organisms discovered proved to be a true oasis of submerged life.
The Trapping Zone theory began to take shape when scientists at Nekton Mission, a nonprofit research organization, collected several biological samples that indicated its existence. swarms of tiny creatures called micronektons on sea terraces. These aquatic organisms become feasts for megafauna predators such as sharks and larger fish.
The famous Maldives atolls are made up of volcanic strata and fossilized carbonate reefs, forming steep and deep vertical cliffs with terraced shelves. At night, nektons migrate from the seafloor to the surface, and when they try to return to the depths at dawn, “trapped” in these compact formations.
How did scientists understand that this is an ecosystem?
Nekton’s current partner, the Maldives Marine Research Institute, is beginning to realize that: 500 meters deepfish that are normally only detectable in shallow water, such as tiger sharks, six-gill sharks, sand tiger sharks, sharks, gulper sharks, clam hammerhead sharks, silkworms, and the very rare spiny shark (capuchin).
In a press release, the mission’s lead scientist, Professor Lucy Woodall, said: “We were particularly intrigued by this depth – why is this happening?” she asked. For Professor Alex Rogers, a renowned marine biologist who has been submerged in the Trap Area for over 30 hours, “This has all the hallmarks of a different new ecosystem.”
Evaluation of videos and biological samples is handled in the Maldives and in various partner laboratories. “The knowledge will obviously help us protect the ocean because we will know which areas we need to protect, which areas we need to manage. […] and how we manage the development of the tourism and fishing industry,” explains Shauna Aminath, Minister of Environment of Maldives.
Source: Tec Mundo
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
