For many, finding a group of lobsters underwater might not seem noteworthy, but for a team of scientists, it led to a significant discovery. Researchers had been searching for a new hydrothermal vent field in the Western Galapagos Islands for the past 20 years. Thanks to a group of helpful squat lobsters, they succeeded, according to IFL Science.
In 2008, researchers detected a chemical anomaly that prompted them to investigate the Galapagos Spreading Center (GSC) region, Live Science reported. The Schmidt Ocean Institute initiated the research, and last year they found the area, which is larger than a soccer pitch and features five geyser-like chimneys and three hot springs. The lobsters played a crucial role in pinpointing the vent field, located between the Cocos and Nazca tectonic plates, about 250 miles north of the Galapagos Islands.
Dr. Roxanne Beinart, a lead researcher, explained, "Scientists have suspected this vent field's existence since the early 2000s, but it was difficult to locate because the fluids are clear and don't emit large clouds like black smokers." The team also discovered tube worms in the warm waters of the new field, named "Sendero del Cangrejo" or "Trail of the Crabs." This discovery resulted from a 30-day expedition that began on August 13, 2023, involving the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel, Falkor (too), in collaboration with the Galápagos National Park Directorate, Charles Darwin Foundation, and the Ecuadorian Navy’s Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute.
Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director at the Schmidt Ocean Institute, noted that this is the fourth hydrothermal vent field discovered using their vessel Falkor (too) since March, including the finding of a new animal ecosystem under hydrothermal vents. She stated, "With 75 percent of the seafloor still unmapped, finding this new vent field highlights how much more we have to learn about our planet and its inhabitants. The seafloor's otherworldly beauty continually amazes me, and I look forward to more discoveries."
Stuart Banks, Senior Marine Scientist at the Charles Darwin Foundation, emphasized the importance of such projects to IFL Science, saying, "Understanding and describing the distribution and unique nature of deep-water hydrothermal communities is crucial for managing our oceans." This new vent field is in a region similar to where the first hydrothermal vent was discovered in the late 1970s, as reported by UNILAD. These vents form in volcanic areas where cracks in the seafloor allow water to seep through the ocean crust, heated by Earth's magma, reaching temperatures of up to 400°C before returning to the ocean.
