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Deepest Chemosynthetic Communities Found in Kuril-Kamchatka and Aleut Trenches

A Nature paper reveals extensive sediment-driven chemosynthetic communities spanning 2,500 km across trenches at depths down to 9,533 m

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Kleine Würmer, die dem gewaltigen Druck der Tiefsee trotzen
Diese große Kolonie von Röhrenwürmern lebt am Grund des Aleutengrabens in 6870 Meter Tiefe. © Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, CAS (IDSSE, CAS)
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Overview

  • The Nature publication confirms chemosynthesis-based animal communities along a 2,500 km zone of the Kuril-Kamchatka and Aleut trenches at depths reaching 9,533 m, making them the deepest known on Earth.
  • Dense colonies of tube worms, bristle worms, mussels and sea snails thrive at cold seeps by harnessing methane and hydrogen sulfide produced by sediment bacteria.
  • Researchers measured maximum densities of up to 5,813 tube worms and 293 mussels per square meter, challenging perceptions of hadal biodiversity scarcity.
  • Findings contradict the assumption that hadal fauna rely mainly on descending organic matter, highlighting a critical role for chemosynthetic energy in deep-sea food webs.
  • The study prompts calls for accelerated hadal zone mapping and cautious regulation of emerging deep-sea mining to safeguard these newly revealed ecosystems.