Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Ocean census aims to discover 100,000 previously unknown marine species
How much and how well do we know about ocean species? It is thought
that over two million species exist in the oceans and only 240,000 of which
have been identified. In fact, it was just in 2020 when the longest sea
creature, a 45-meter-long siphonophore, was discovered. So, in order to discover
those remaining unknown ocean species, a global alliance called Ocean Census was
recently formed. It aims to identify 100,000 new species in the next decade by
using advanced technologies like high-resolution imaging, machine learning, and
sequencing of DNA in seawater. How does DNA in seawater help identify species?
Since all living organisms disperse genetic material into the environment, you
can detect and track species by examining the sample waterborne DNA from the
deep water. The initiative also aims to find how marine ecosystems are adapting
to climate change. While rockets and telescopes help us study space and extraterrestrial
life, submersibles and cameras do the same for species in the deep sea.
Enjoy reading the article and watching the video of a giant jellyfish
to learn about the research project on living marine species.
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