In Russia will create a Bank of deep-sea organisms

To create the first Bank in Russia for deep-sea organisms, the task of the expedition, which was organized by the national centre of marine biology Russian Academy of Sciences. Studying the inhabitants of the Pacific ocean at depths greater than 5 km.

On the surface of the raging storm, and the sea calm. Life on the 9 km under water like a slowed down several times. Waddle sea cucumbers, sparkling eyes in the dark shrimp, fish lie curled up, the female octopus protects the eggs. The ocean at this depth for the first time can be seen so close with lenses underwater robot.

Each expedition collected thousands of species of marine organisms. And almost half of them were not previously known to science. For example, tihohodka, the length of which is one-twentieth of a millimeter. In order not to miss a single inhabitant, during an expedition from the seafloor raise the soil and sift it through a sieve with a cell of 64 microns.

It is not just the study of marine flora and fauna. Important biochemical structure of organisms. Each peak of graphics on devices - new substance which can become the basis for new drugs, dietary supplements, food. There are already important discoveries: the far Eastern scientists have discovered new types of fatty acids. And despite the fact that deep-sea Odyssey started recently - about 7 years ago. Annually the scientists of the National centre of marine biology far Eastern branch of RAS sent to the international expedition, in which composition and neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region, and representatives of the Western European scientific community.

Together with biologists from Germany has studied the depths of the Okhotsk, Bering and Japanese seas. Marine biologists say deep-sea space of the World ocean have been less explored than space. The ocean occupies 71% of the planet's surface. And more than half of it is a depth from 5 km away. one Can only guess how many undiscovered they conceal.

sections: Society