dailyloe.com – Researchers have discovered hundreds of species in deep-sea canyons off Nyinggulu, Western Australia. They identified marine life through environmental DNA, or eDNA, without direct observation. This innovative method analyzes small seawater samples for DNA particles shed by creatures.
The study focused on the Cape Range and Cloates canyons, located about 1,200km north of Perth. Researchers collected samples from depths of up to 4,510m. Their findings were published in the journal Environmental DNA.
Georgia Nester, the study’s lead author and researcher at the University of Western Australia, stated, “These canyons are incredibly rich ecosystems and, until now, they’ve been largely unexplored because of the difficulty of working at such extreme depths.” Nester emphasized the potential of eDNA to reveal numerous species from a single water sample.
The eDNA analysis revealed a picture of life deep underwater, including the presence of a giant squid. This rare cephalopod has not been recorded in Western Australian waters for over 25 years. Dr. Lisa Kirkendale, WA Museum Head of Aquatic Zoology, noted, “This is the first record of a giant squid detected off Western Australia’s coast using eDNA protocols.”
The giant squid, known scientifically as A. dux, can exceed lengths of 13m and possesses large eyes. Their detection marks a significant advancement in understanding the biodiversity of deep-sea ecosystems.
