Scientists from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in collaboration with the National Center for Wildlife Development, have discovered a unique and unexpected ecosystem beneath the third largest coral reef system in the world, and the largest in the Red Sea. The study revealed a diverse range of marine creatures such as corals, fish, and other organisms in the depths of the waters off the Farasan Banks located near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. These organisms were found in an environment with low oxygen and high acidity, conditions previously believed to be unsuitable for life.
The research showed that some of these organisms exhibited unexpected adaptation strategies that enabled them to survive in this harsh environment. It was observed that the movement of fish was slower, while the corals maintained their health in conditions that typically hinder the necessary calcification process for coral growth and survival.
Dr. Shannon Klein, a researcher at KAUST and lead author of the study, explained that the ability of these creatures to live in warm, low-oxygen environments is due to unique mechanisms that reduce their need for oxygen to survive. This discovery highlights the importance of exploring the deep layers in tropical coastal areas, which may reveal unexpected ecological systems.
Despite living underwater, fish, corals, and many other marine organisms require oxygen to survive. Similar to terrestrial organisms, these creatures suffocate when oxygen levels drop to dangerous levels. However, the waters of the Red Sea reveal resilient ecosystems. Given that oxygen depletion in the oceans is a consequence of rising temperatures, understanding how these marine organisms adapt could help uncover ways for marine life to cope with climate change.
Coral reefs are typically found in shallow waters, but this study documented their presence at depths exceeding 200 meters in various areas of the shallow Farasan reef system. This highlights the ability of these ecosystems to thrive in unexpected conditions and further emphasizes the need to protect and understand the complexities of marine life in the face of environmental challenges.
