Scientists have known for decades that some species of octopus -and other cephalopods- have spawning (egg-laying) and fry (brooding, fry) areas, in the style of nurseries or nurseries. In the Galician Cies Islands, for example, some of these enclaves of great value for the reproduction of octopods have been located. On the other hand, it is not so normal to find these breeding places at great depths and in fact only three of them are known below 2,000 meters.
An international team of scientists has now discovered a new deep-sea octopus nursery in international waters off Costa Rica, apparently taking advantage of the conditions of a low-temperature hydrothermal vent. The authors of this new location indicate that the Dorado Outcrop, as the area in which the underwater work has been carried out is known, has very special characteristics.
One of these singularities is that one of the octopuses present is a new species of the genus Muusoctopus, a small to medium-sized octopus without an ink sac. In addition, the expedition responsible for this research believes that there must be multiple species of deep-sea octopus that seek low-temperature hydrothermal vents to incubate their eggs.
The Octopus Odyssey expedition, led by Beth Orcutt, from the Bigelow Laboratory of Ocean Sciences (United States), and Jorge Cortés, from the University of Costa Rica, has worked this summer aboard the Falkor research vessel of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, with a total of 18 international scientists.
The scientists witnessed the hatching of eggs of what is believed to be a new species of Muusoctopus. The Dorado Outcrop hatchery was originally discovered in 2013 and astonished scientists as it was the first observation of female octopuses coming together to hatch her eggs. No developing embryos were observed when the site was first explored, leading scientists to believe that conditions at the Golden Basin might not be compatible with octopus growth.
Five never-before-seen seamounts in the northwestern corner of Costa Rican waters were also explored and contained thriving biodiversity, as well as hundreds of animals, many suspected to be new species.
“The discovery of a new octopus hatchery active more than 2,800 meters below the sea surface in Costa Rican waters demonstrates that there is still much to learn about our ocean,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute Executive Director Professor Jyotika Virmani. “Costa Rica’s deep waters ride on the edge of human imagination, with spectacular images collected with the help of the ROV SuBastian underwater robot of tripod fish, baby octopus and coral gardens. We look forward to continuing to help the world witness and study the wonders of our incredible ocean.”
Seamounts, including the Golden Outcrop, are currently unprotected from human activities such as fishing. Half of the scientific team was made up of Costa Rican scientists, some of whom are working to determine whether seamounts deserve protection and should be designated marine protected areas.
“This expedition to the deep waters of the Pacific off Costa Rica has been an excellent opportunity for us to get to know our own country,” said Cortés. “The expedition was attended by a significant number of local scientists and students, which will accelerate our ability to study deep regions. The information, samples and images are important to Costa Rica to show its wealth and will be used for scientific studies and outreach to raise awareness about what we have and why we must protect it.”
During the expedition, the scientists used an underwater robot, ROV SuBastian, to observe seamounts and baby octopuses. The dives were made available to the public in real time via live streaming from the Schmidt Ocean Institute. “Discovering these low-temperature vent sites is difficult and can only be found with submersible vehicles like the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s high-capacity ROV SuBastian,” Orcutt said.
Schmidt Ocean Institute is donating its research vessel, R/V Falkor, and its underwater robot, ROV SuBastian, in a program to support scientific research in Central America.
The Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, support life, and ensure the health of our planet through impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, and open exchange of information. and public participation at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an independent, non-profit research institute located in East Boothbay, Maine. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, Bigelow Laboratory scientists use innovative approaches to study the basis of the global health of the oceans and unlock their potential to improve the future of all life on our planet. For more information https://www.bigelow.org/about/ .
The University of Costa Rica (UCR) is a higher education institution that stands out for humanist education. On March 12, 2001, the deputies of the Legislative Assembly, taking into account the contribution of the UCR to the country, declared it a Meritorious Institution of Costa Rican Education and Culture through Law No. 8098. Since its constitution in 1940, this Institution enjoys University Autonomy. For more information: https://www.ucr.ac.cr/ .
