Scientists spent the past 10 years studying life in the oceans. This month, they released the results of their work.
People often say that there are plenty of fish in the sea. But until recently, not even scientists knew how many creatures lived in the world's oceans. Ten years ago, a group of scientists decided to find it out.
"We announced that we would try to conduct the first-ever worldwide census of marine life," the project's co-founder, Jesse Ausubel, told TFK. "It was daring, and people responded. "Over the next 10 years, more than 2, 700 scientists from 80 countries worked together to track, count and study sea species. In a report this month, they shared what they learned.
Decades of Discovery
Scientists began by exploring the seas. Along the way, they discovered many new species. "We found life everywhere we looked, "says census scientists Patricia Miloslavich. "We have given 1, 200 new names to science."
One name belongs to a type of furry white crab that spends its life at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The unusual creature lives in a world of total darkness. Another new species, a nine-pound lobster, was found in the Indian Ocean, near Africa. "It is surprising that an animal of that size would remain to be discovered." says Ausubel.
Scientists also did research on land. They read through old records, including scientific papers, books, seafood—restaurant menus and fishermen's journals. Their goal: to find out which sea creatures lived where in the past.
Snapshot of the sea
After ten years of investigation, scientists found that the oceans are teeming with life. They counted 250, 000 marine species. They have an estimate of how many more species are waiting to be found: a whopping 750, 000. "Most of these will be small," says Ausubel, "There won't be any more giant lobsters."
The researchers learned which underwater areas have the most species. The seas around Australia and Japan have as many as 33, 000 forms of life. (The average marine area has about 10, 000 species.) These "hot spots" for biodiversity need special attention and protection, says Miloslavich.
The accurate picture of ocean life will help scientists notice changes. "Things will be different in 10, 20, 30 years," says Ausubel. "Knowing what's there now will be helpful. "
The census gives us a better understanding of the challenges facing our oceans. Many of the problems, including overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution, stem from(起源于) human behaviour.
Environmentalists are working to set up protected areas in the sea, much like the parks that conserve 12% of our land. "We need to show concern for the ocean, "says Miloslavich.
