The Vampire Squid - an ancient species faces new dangers in the deep

The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) lives in the deep ocean, home to the largest ecosystems on our planet. A "living fossil," this animal has remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of millions of years. The deep ocean contains what may be the greatest number of animal species, the greatest biomass, and the greatest number of individual organisms in the living world. Humans have explored the deep ocean for about 150 years, and most of what is known is based on studies of the deep seafloor. In contrast, the water column above the deep seabed comprises more than 90% of the living space, yet less than 1% of this biome has been explored. The deep pelagic biota is the largest and least-known major faunal group on Earth despite its obvious importance at the global scale. Pelagic species represent an incomparable reservoir of biodiversity. Although we have yet to discover and describe the majority of these species, the threats to their continued existence are numerous and growing. Conserving deep pelagic biodiversity is a problem of global proportions that has never been addressed comprehensively. The potential effects of these threats include the extensive restructuring of entire ecosystems, changes in the geographical ranges of many species, large-scale elimination of taxa, and a decline in biodiversity at all scales. This review provides an initial framework of threat assessment for confronting the challenge of conserving deep pelagic biodiversity; and it outlines the need for baseline surveys and protected areas as preliminary policy goals.

B. H. Robison. Conservation of deep pelagic diversity. Conservation Biology. 2009. Vol 23, Issue 4. August, 2009.

http://www.mbari.org/news/news_releases/2010/deep-conservation/deep-conservat...

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122323401/abstract

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Deep sea
• Conservation
• deep pelagic zone
• Biodiversity
• Bruce H. Robison
• MBARI
• Vampire squid
• Vampyroteuthis infernalis

[MBARIvideo]

This is a real animal, that we observed and videotaped with our remotely operated vehicle Ventana in September 2000 at a depth of 708 meters (2,323 feet). Our scientists see this animal on a regular basis.

[timeoftroubles]

It's amazing to me that someone, anyone really, would be brazen enough to complain about this clips 'political agenda' because the dialogue illuminates the the very real, and continuing, threat that human activity presents to the existence of creatures such as these... and so many others. It is a sad tribute to the fact that so many of us still live, and think, in a manner that is as devoid of light, and reason, as is the depth of the ocean that this magnificent creature calls home.

[willbirful]

very interesting thanks

[ngc934]

i dont get how nature could become really creepy but wonderful at the same time..in other words...DAMN NATURE YOU SCARY.

[RogellParadox]

Fascinating. This kind of animals must be studied and protected

[Cahleeb]

Support global warming to save this squid.

[azntimtam]

Count Squidula

[timeoftroubles]

@JohnsonWitticker ;-)

[JohnsonWitticker]

@timeoftroubles You're a badass. 

[MyLapuLapu]

amazing animals.!

[timeoftroubles]

@sniktawleahcim So in other words, if I'm not against eating seafood, then I'm a hypocrite for being against polluting and over-harvesting of the Earth's Ocean's... Is that the core of your point? If then, that is your point, and I am not a vegetarian, then I should, by your account, be in favor of whole-sale pollution and give carte blanche to the engines of industry that, in effect, strip-mine the oceans without thought to the long-term repercussions... Am I correct?

[sniktawleahcim]

@timeoftroubles You state that it is disgusting that we could allow other species to die out if it is inconvenient for us to keep them alive. Eating animals for food is killing animals, just as any side effect deaths of what we do killing those in the ocean. I'm not a vegetarian, and not trying to enforce those ideals, but to act like it is bad to let animals die for our benefit, but to continue to support eating animals, is kind of contradictory.