Species Discovery Workshop Yields 57 New Species From Mar del Plata Canyon

An international Species Discovery Workshop, led by the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census in partnership with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, has identified 57 new marine species and five genera, shedding new light on one of the most biologically dynamic regions in the South Atlantic. The workshop brought together 20 taxonomists to examine deep-sea biological samples from an expedition in the Mar del Plata Canyon. The discoveries were logged directly onto an open-access data platform for newly discovered marine species.

 

Details of the Workshop

 

A major species discovery effort has concluded. It was an international workshop. It was led by the Ocean Census initiative. The Schmidt Ocean Institute partnered on it. It yielded 57 new species.

The workshop had significant results. It also identified five new genera. These shed light on the region. This is the South Atlantic. It is a biologically dynamic area.

 

The Research Approach

 

The workshop used a collaborative approach. It brought together 20 taxonomists. These spanned Latin America and Europe. They examined deep-sea samples. These came from an earlier expedition.

The samples had a specific origin. They came from the Mar del Plata Canyon expedition. This used a research vessel and ROV. The workshop was hosted in Buenos Aires. It used integrated taxonomy techniques.

 

The Key Discoveries

 

The discoveries spanned diverse species. These included 20 new copepods. Echinoderms also featured. Cnidarians were identified too. A mollusc completed the finds.

One discovery stood out notably. This was a deep-sea sea cucumber. It was named Loki. This was for its horned appendages. These resemble the Norse god.

 

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The Remarkable Findings

 

Some findings were especially striking. Taxonomists examined only part of the copepod samples. Yet every specimen was new to science. This yielded 20 new species. One new genus also emerged.

Coral discoveries were also significant. The workshop identified 14 new coral species. These included potential new genera. A potential new family also emerged. These provide data on deep-sea ecosystems.

 

The Expedition Background

 

The workshop built on an expedition. It marked its one-year anniversary. This was the Mar del Plata Canyon expedition. It explored a deep submarine canyon. This exceeded 3,500 metres.

The expedition captured public attention. Live video reached millions of viewers. They witnessed deep-sea coral reefs. One seastar gained fame. It resembled a cartoon character.

 

Significance of the Workshop

 

The workshop demonstrated collaborative power. Leadership cited its speed. It discovered 57 species in two weeks. The deep sea remains poorly understood. The workshop accelerated understanding.

The workshop also built regional capacity. It invested in Argentine science. Specimens will be housed locally. It trained early-career researchers. A follow-up expedition is planned for 2027.