Tweet
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38264222?GT1=43001
Deep-ocean cameras capture ‘living fossils’
Australian scientists document the creatures of the Coral Sea
Remote-controlled cameras sent down to depths of more than 4,500 feet in the Coral Sea have brought back unprecedented views of six-gilled sharks, giant oil fish, swarms of crustaceans and nautiluses that have been compared to "living fossils."
The images were captured at Osprey Reef, off the coast of northeast Australia, 220 miles (350 kilometers) from Cairns. The Deep Australia research team, led by Justin Marshall of the Queensland Brain Institute, said the findings will contribute to deep-sea conservation as well as neurobiology.
"Osprey Reef is one of the many reefs in the Coral Sea Conservation Zone, which has been identified as an area of high conservation importance by the [Australian] federal government," Marshall said in a news release. "Therefore, it is paramount that we identify the ecosystems and species inhabiting the area."
The team developed deep-sea cameras and instrument platforms to document the creatures of a deep-sea realm beyond the reach of sunlight.
"We simply do not know what life is down there, and our cameras can now record the behavior and life in Australia's largest biosphere, the deep sea," Marshall said.
The scientists focused their attention on nautiluses, relatives of squids and octopuses that still live in shells, as they have for millions of years. "Learning more about these creatures' primitive eyes and brain could help neuroscientists to better understand human vision," research student Andy Dunstan said.
Marshall pointed out that squid nerve cells gave scientists their first insights into how nerve cells function and communicate. "We are now returning to these original model systems, both for their own intrinsic interest and also to better understand brain disorders which lead to conditions such as epilepsy," he said.
In September, the researchers are scheduled to travel to the Peru Trench, off South America's western coast, where they plan to film and capture deep-sea species more than a mile beneath sea level. One creature they hope to encounter is the giant squid, which has the largest nerve cells found in nature.
Deep-sea delights
Scientists from the Queensland Brain Institute have used high-tech cameras to photograph sea creatures at a depth of 4,600 feet at the Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea, northeast of the northern Australian city of Cairns. This is a deliciously red Atolla jellyfish. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Lights, camera, action!
This deep-sea anglerfish is well-adapted for living in a dark world where the pressure is 140 times greater than on land. "Learning more about these creatures' primitive eyes and brain could help neuroscientists better understand human vision," research team leader Justin Marshall says. "We could also design better cameras and illumination systems because, as we've seen, nature often gets there first." (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Squids change their spots
Squids have the power to change their skin color rapidly, thanks to pigment-filled sacs called chromatophores. This close-up of squid skin shows the chromatophores on a Coral Sea creature. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Hatchetfish on patrol
The deep-sea hatchetfish gets its name from the shape of its body, which looks like an ax head. It may be a warlike name, but most hatchetfish are actually rather timid. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
What big teeth!
A deep-sea anglerfish bares its sharp, translucent teeth in a photo taken by a high-tech camera. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Alien creature
Deep-sea amphipods, like the one seen here from an unusual perspective, are shrimplike crustaceans. They're typically less than a half-inch long, but some deep-sea species grow to lengths of 11 inches. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Wide-angle anglerfish
A deep-sea anglerfish heads toward the camera in the Coral Sea. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Wild jelly
The deep-sea Periphylla jellyfish has 12 tentacles, and its body can grow to a height of 8 inches (20 centimeters). . (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Deep-sea monster
The viperfish is considered one of the oddest-looking and most ferocious fish of the deep ocean. Its fangs are so large that they cannot fit inside its mouth, but instead curve back very close to the creature's eyes. The viperfish is thought to use its teeth to impale its victims by swimming at them at high speed. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images
Deep-ocean cameras capture ‘living fossils’
Australian scientists document the creatures of the Coral Sea
Remote-controlled cameras sent down to depths of more than 4,500 feet in the Coral Sea have brought back unprecedented views of six-gilled sharks, giant oil fish, swarms of crustaceans and nautiluses that have been compared to "living fossils."
The images were captured at Osprey Reef, off the coast of northeast Australia, 220 miles (350 kilometers) from Cairns. The Deep Australia research team, led by Justin Marshall of the Queensland Brain Institute, said the findings will contribute to deep-sea conservation as well as neurobiology.
"Osprey Reef is one of the many reefs in the Coral Sea Conservation Zone, which has been identified as an area of high conservation importance by the [Australian] federal government," Marshall said in a news release. "Therefore, it is paramount that we identify the ecosystems and species inhabiting the area."
The team developed deep-sea cameras and instrument platforms to document the creatures of a deep-sea realm beyond the reach of sunlight.
"We simply do not know what life is down there, and our cameras can now record the behavior and life in Australia's largest biosphere, the deep sea," Marshall said.
The scientists focused their attention on nautiluses, relatives of squids and octopuses that still live in shells, as they have for millions of years. "Learning more about these creatures' primitive eyes and brain could help neuroscientists to better understand human vision," research student Andy Dunstan said.
Marshall pointed out that squid nerve cells gave scientists their first insights into how nerve cells function and communicate. "We are now returning to these original model systems, both for their own intrinsic interest and also to better understand brain disorders which lead to conditions such as epilepsy," he said.
In September, the researchers are scheduled to travel to the Peru Trench, off South America's western coast, where they plan to film and capture deep-sea species more than a mile beneath sea level. One creature they hope to encounter is the giant squid, which has the largest nerve cells found in nature.
Deep-sea delights
Scientists from the Queensland Brain Institute have used high-tech cameras to photograph sea creatures at a depth of 4,600 feet at the Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea, northeast of the northern Australian city of Cairns. This is a deliciously red Atolla jellyfish. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Lights, camera, action!
This deep-sea anglerfish is well-adapted for living in a dark world where the pressure is 140 times greater than on land. "Learning more about these creatures' primitive eyes and brain could help neuroscientists better understand human vision," research team leader Justin Marshall says. "We could also design better cameras and illumination systems because, as we've seen, nature often gets there first." (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Squids change their spots
Squids have the power to change their skin color rapidly, thanks to pigment-filled sacs called chromatophores. This close-up of squid skin shows the chromatophores on a Coral Sea creature. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Hatchetfish on patrol
The deep-sea hatchetfish gets its name from the shape of its body, which looks like an ax head. It may be a warlike name, but most hatchetfish are actually rather timid. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
What big teeth!
A deep-sea anglerfish bares its sharp, translucent teeth in a photo taken by a high-tech camera. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Alien creature
Deep-sea amphipods, like the one seen here from an unusual perspective, are shrimplike crustaceans. They're typically less than a half-inch long, but some deep-sea species grow to lengths of 11 inches. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Wide-angle anglerfish
A deep-sea anglerfish heads toward the camera in the Coral Sea. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Wild jelly
The deep-sea Periphylla jellyfish has 12 tentacles, and its body can grow to a height of 8 inches (20 centimeters). . (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images)
Deep-sea monster
The viperfish is considered one of the oddest-looking and most ferocious fish of the deep ocean. Its fangs are so large that they cannot fit inside its mouth, but instead curve back very close to the creature's eyes. The viperfish is thought to use its teeth to impale its victims by swimming at them at high speed. (Justin Marshall / AFP - Getty Images
Comment