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Scientists on an Ocean Census expedition to the underexplored Bounty Trough off the South Island have discovered around a hundred new ocean species.
Laboratory work to confirm the finds is already underway at marine environment agency NIWA and at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, where taxonomists will formally describe the species so each can be added to the so-called 'Tree of Life'. But expedition leaders say they're confident they already have scores of new species of molluscs, three new species of fish, a potentially new genus of coral and a mystery find that could be a new group of octocoral.
The 21-strong science team spent 21 days at sea mapping and exploring the storm-tossed Bounty Trough for new species along its 800km length, deploying sampling equipment to depths of almost 5,000m . Using sonar mapping they produced detailed images of the trough and the seamounts beneath its surface.
SOUNDBITE ALAN ORPIN, PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST,MARINE GEOLOGY, NIWA "Before, the map really showed a very basic conical shape but you can clearly see there's lots more detail that's now revealed ; multiple ridges, multiple peaks and, interestingly, a moat that runs around the base of the seamount where the current would have swept away sediment".
The topographical and geological data informs the crew on how and where to deploy cameras on a Deep Towed Imaging System, which is the scientists' eyes on what lies below. What they find looking back at them is sometimes a surprise.....
SOUNDBITE KAT BOLSTAD, SQUID EXPERT, AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY " We had a large Taningia Danae squid - which is an animal that's over a metre long. It's got the largest light organs in the animal kingdom and hooks on all of the arms instead of suckers, and so this large specimen swam through the frame , had a little look at us, flashed its light organs once and then disappeared off into the darkness and that was a heart stopping moment."
Each of the almost 1800 samples taken reveals another clue in the puzzle of life in the deep ocean.
SOUNDBITE ALEX ROGERS, SCIENCE DIRECTOR,OCEAN CENSUS "The first thing I saw was a very large sea cucumber about so big; so that was very nice,that came out straight away and then as we delved through the net we found a very large specimen of what are called 'sea pigs' which are sea cucumbers but they have small leg-like appendages."
Declaring a species is new to science requires discovery and detailed comparison with other previously described finds.
SOUNDBITE ANDREW STEWART, FISHES CURATOR, MUSEUM OF NEW ZEALAND TE PAPA TONGAREWA, FISHES CURATOR "This particular species is only known from that specimen . The strong suspicion we have right at the moment is this is a new species. "
SOUNDBITE SADIE MILLS, EXPEDITION CO-LEADER , NIWA "And we've gone to lots of different habitats and we've discovered a whole range of new species from fish to snails to corals and sea cucumbers and things like that. Really interesting species that are going to be new to science."
SOUNDBITE ALEX ROGERS, SCIENCE DIRECTOR,OCEAN CENSUS "It does look like we have a great haul of new, undiscovered species. What's really surprised me here is the fact that this extends to animals like fish. We think we've got three new species of fish."
One find is proving a mystery - expert taxonomists will now assess its significance
SOUNDBITE MICHELA MITCHELL,TAXONOMIST, QUEENSLAND MUSEUM NETWORK " We definitely think it's a new species of octocoral, but also a new genus or even a whole new group outside of the octocorals as well."
The new species count will likely be north of 100 after sediment cores and other smaller organisms are examined.
SOUNDBITE KERRY WALTON,INVERTEBRATES CURATOR,MUSEUM OF NEW ZEALAND TE PAPA TONGAREWA "So the material that we gathered on this expedition will likely be used for scientific projects for many years to come."
The specimens found and the species discovered will remain the property of New Zealand and be curated on behalf of all its peoples by NIWA and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
SHOTLIST (ALL SHOT FEB 7- FEB 29 , BOUNTY TROUGH, NEW ZEALAND)
1. Research Vessel RV Tangaroa riding stormy seas in "roaring forties" in Bounty Trough off New Zealand's South Island
2.Computer maps of Bounty Trough topography and subsea seamount
3.SOUNDBITE ALAN ORPIN, PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST,MARINE GEOLOGIST, NIWA "Before, the map really showed a very basic conical shape but you can clearly see there's lots more detail that's now revealed ; multiple ridges, multiple peaks, and interestingly a moat that runs around the base of the seamount where the current would have swept away sediment".
4. RV Tangaroa at sea in Bounty Trough in calmer weather
5. Deployment of cameras on a Deep Towed Imaging System
6. Underwater footage of fish
7. Large one metre long Taningia Danae squid swims through shot
8. SOUNDBITE KAT BOLSTAD, SQUID EXPERT, AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY " We had a large Taningia Danae squid which is an animal that's over a metre long. It's got the largest light organs in the animal kingdom and hooks on all of the arms instead of suckers, and so this large specimen swam through the frame , had a little look at us, flashed its light organs once and then disappeared off into the darkness and that was a heart stopping moment."
9.Crew haul nets of samples onto deck of ship
10. Samples in box on deck
11.Sea Cucumber specimen
12. 'Sea PIg' sea cucumber specimen
13.SOUNDBITE ALEX ROGERS, SCIENCE DIRECTOR,OCEAN CENSUS "The first thing I saw was a very large sea cucumber about so big; so that was very nice. that came out straight away and then as we delved through the next we found a very large specimen of what are called 'sea pigs' which are sea cucumbers but they have small leg-like appendages."
14. New species of Eelpout fish taken from trap
15. Fishes curator Andrew Stewart compares specimen with other known Eelpout in online science journal
16. SOUNDBITE ANDREW STEWART, FISHES CURATOR, MUSEUM OF NEW ZEALAND TE PAPA TONGAREWA, FISHES CURATOR "This particular species is only known from that specimen . The strong suspicion we have right at the moment is this is a new species. "
17.Scientists sift through samples on deck
18. Close up new mollusc species in container
19. Scientists investigate a new genus of black coral
20. New species of Eelpout in tray
21.SOUNDBITE SADIE MILLS, EXPEDITION CO-LEADER , NIWA "And we've gone to lots of different habitats and we've discovered a whole range of new species from fish to snails to corals and sea cucumbers and things like that. Really interesting species that are going to be new to science."
22. Series of interesting but not totally new finds - squid, sea spider, blobfish
23 .SOUNDBITE ALEX ROGERS, SCIENCE DIRECTOR,OCEAN CENSUS"It does look like we have a great haul of new, undiscovered species. What's really surprised me here is the fact that this extends to animals like fish. We think we've got three new species of fish."
24.Mystery find - possibly new genus or group of octocoral being examined and put under microscope
25.SOUNDBITE MICHELA MITCHELL,TAXONOMIST, QUEENSLAND MUSEUM NETWORK " We definitely think it's a new species of octocoral, but also a new genus or even a whole new group outside of the octocorals as well."
26. Mystery find of possible new genus or group of octocoral in dish
27.Sediment core being sliced
28. Core with unidentified worm
29, Sample being put under microscope
30. New species of comma shrimp being examined under microscope
31. New species of cephalopod still photo
32. Black coral being examined
33..SOUNDBITE KERRY WALTON,INVERTEBRATES CURATOR,MUSEUM OF NEW ZEALAND TE PAPA TONGAREWA"So the material that we gathered on this expedition will likely be used for scientific projects for many years to come."
34. Overhead shot of samples being examined on deck
35. Samples in tray
36. Dolphins in front of RV Tangaroa
37. RV Tangaroa returns to Wellington port Feb 29
10 March 2024
