What Is Life At Sea Like?
The seas and oceans of our planet Earth are the perfect habitat for a huge diversity of animals, plants and minerals. From single-celled microorganisms to majestic whales, life at sea is as diverse as it is fascinating.
5 facts and facts about life at sea
To help you better understand life at sea, we’ll look at a list of useful data and fun facts about the marine ecosystem.
The number of endangered marine species is critical
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) periodically prepares and updates its Red List, in which it assesses the conservation status of different species.
Currently, the Red List has analyzed more than 40,000 species, among which we find more than 1,400 marine animals.
These observations of life at sea revealed that 16 marine species are already extinct. In addition, it is estimated that almost 400 marine species are at risk of extinction, in a vulnerable state, threatened or critically threatened.
A curiosity is that most of the species analyzed are cartilaginous fish, such as rays and sharks. There are already more than 500 species cataloged in this same group.
Unfortunately, the conclusion is that one fifth of sharks are currently threatened with extinction.
These data confirmed the suspicions of many researchers: slow-growing species are particularly vulnerable to overpopulation phenomena.
Therefore, the population of sharks declines much faster than that of small fish or other fast-growing species.
There is life in the depths of the ocean
Most marine life is found in the superficial and intermediate layers of oceans and seas. However, some investigations have managed to observe that there is life in the blue depths.
The discovery of ocean trenches allowed us to advance in the study of underwater biodiversity.
In 2014, a group of scientists conducted a detailed study of life under the sea. One of the analyzed sites was the New Hebrides Trench, deep in the Pacific Ocean.
In this region, species of crustaceans and sprouts that live at a depth of more than 7,000 meters can be observed.
Some fish from the Zoarcidae family , which are more popularly known as eels, have also been seen.
On the other hand, they did not see the presence of the snailfish, a common inhabitant of other known ocean trenches.
The data obtained allowed us to understand that underwater life can be very different in each ocean trench.
Life in the depths of the sea is very special and different from what we are used to seeing in the seas. It can also present particularities according to the location of the pit and the nutrients available in the region.
The curious reproductive cycle of seahorses
Among marine species, we find the curious case of the only animal whose male gender is capable of becoming pregnant.
Of course, we are talking about horse bedlinen, also called the hippocampus. Currently, more than 30 species of hippocampus are known and their peculiarities continue to defy science.
In these curious fish, males are responsible for carrying their future offspring during pregnancy. At each pregnancy, 1.5 thousand fingerlings can give birth.
For now, researchers assume that this particular trait is due to the duplication of genes that occurred during the evolution of these species.
The dangerous voltage of electric eels
If the outlets in our homes already have a dangerous voltage, be aware that eels can emit electrical shocks of up to 600 volts.
We don’t find these species very often, but electric eels are common in Amazonian rivers, for example.
Although they are often confused with sea snakes, electric eels are fish belonging to the Gymnotidae family .
And they are the only species of the genus that can transmit powerful electrical currents from within their body.
In fact, this very special feature of this species is an important defensive skill; however, it also helps to capture prey and communicate with other eels.
Only 5% of marine life is known
When we talk about so many species with such different appearances, organisms and particularities, it seems that we already know a lot about marine ecology.
However, the latest Census of Marine Life (CoML) states that humans were only able to recognize 5% of life at sea. We still have a lot to know and admire.
