CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator. Photo: CSIRO.
The CSIRO and a global alliance working to speed up the discovery of ocean life have found more than 110 new fish and invertebrate species in the mysterious deep waters of the Coral Sea Marine Park — with more than 200 species expected to be identified in total.
Marine taxonomists led by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census have been identifying specimens collected late last year.
Scientists onboard the national science agency research vessel (RV) Investigator discovered the new species between 200 and 3000 m deep in the marine park, which covers nearly one million square kilometres of mostly unexplored, deep water off the coast of Queensland, beyond the Great Barrier Reef.
CSIRO Coral Sea Frontier voyage chief scientist and shark expert Dr Will White identified four new species during a series of taxonomy workshops around Australia – two rays, one deep water catshark and a chimaera. Taxonomists study, classify and name new species.
“During the voyage it was incredible to observe plenty of unique, deep sea creatures in locations from seamounts and atolls to unexplored deep reefs,” he said.
“These incredible discoveries, made possible by the impressive deep water survey capabilities of RV Investigator, reveal the extraordinary life in our oceans and are crucial for protecting Australia’s marine biodiversity.”
CSIRO voyage chief scientist Dr Will White. Photo: CSIRO/ Frederique Olivier.
Ocean Census head of science Dr Michelle Taylor said the workshops helped to close gaps in knowledge about undocumented marine life worldwide.
“To ensure high-quality data is visible to the global community in real-time, the taxonomists at the workshops input the species data directly into the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform, the world’s first open-access digital gateway for newly discovered marine species,” she said.
“During what were likely the largest taxonomic workshops of marine animals ever undertaken in Australia, other notable discoveries included species of brittlestars, crabs, sea anemones and sponges that are new to science.”
CSIRO Coral Sea Frontier researcher Dr Candice Untiedt. Photo: CSIRO/Frederique Olivier.
CSIRO voyage and workshop participant Dr Candice Untiedt said: “Voyages like the Coral Sea Frontiers expedition are essential for uncovering biodiversity in our marine parks – but collecting specimens is just the first step; turning them into knowledge depends on taxonomic expertise.”
The RV Investigator team observed marine life using a new deep-towed specialised underwater camera platform.
Researchers captured footage of a rare sand tiger shark, which is a deepwater relative of the well-known grey nurse shark.
Dr Claire Rowe, Australian Museum’s collection manager of marine invertebrates, took part in the CSIRO voyage and workshops. Photo: CSIRO.
Samples from the voyage have been sent to collections across the country, including state museums and the CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection.
The work was funded by the Commonwealth’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and backed by Parks Australia, Bush Blitz, the Ocean Census, and various museums, universities and research institutes.
