Deep-sea life has a secret food source scientists never expected
Scientists have discovered that deep-sea microbes feed on dissolved organic matter leaked from sinking 'marine snow' due to extreme hydrostatic pressure. This process suggests that carbon is recycled in the deep ocean more rapidly than previously estimated.
Why it matters
This discovery forces a re-evaluation of the global carbon cycle, as it suggests less carbon may be permanently sequestered in deep-sea sediments than climate models currently assume.
Scientists have uncovered an unexpected source of food in the deep ocean that could change how researchers understand both marine ecosystems and Earth's carbon cycle. A new study from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) suggests that deep ocean microbes are not living in such a nutrient-starved environment after all.
The article is a straightforward report on environmental science findings.
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