Ancient fossil fish research data unveiled
WORLD Oceans Day 2022 was used as the backdrop for the unveiling of findings of a three-week research expedition in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Themed 'Collective action to revitalise our oceans', the Deep Connections expedition was a collaboration of eight institutions plus a crew aboard the research vessel Phakisa, which included both experienced and emerging scientists and students.
In a joint statement, iSimangaliso, the SA National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi), the SA Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and the SA Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) outlined the findings.
‘The team conducted 61 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) dives during which they collected more than 25 hours of video footage, 77 specimens for taxonomy, genetic, pollution and marine natural product research; data to support coelacanth population studies, and deployed instruments to study temperature and oceanographic patterns in the study area.
‘Focus species included coelacanths, seabreams and glass sponges, with underwater canyons and deep-sea sponge habitats being the focus of ecosystem research.
‘This will help scientists understand the conditions in the underwater canyons and sponge habitats to find out what sets areas with high sponge densities apart from other areas.’
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The Deep Connections team recorded 16 coelacanth sightings of six individuals, including two first timers.
Coelacanths are believed to be very slow growing and long living. Research suggests they reach sexual maturity around the age of 40, may be pregnant for five years, and live for more than a century.
Triton, one of four known individuals seen this year, was first documented 22 years ago by mixed gas deep divers who discovered the coelacanths in iSimangaliso in 2000.
This is the longest record of an individual coelacanth and aligns with evidence that suggests these fish are long-living and highly resident.
The scientists use lasers to help measure the coelacanths, and hope to measure growth over time.
Two other re-sighted coelacanths were tagged in 2003 and 2013, yielding valuable insights into the species' behaviour in the park.
These bring the total number of coelacanths in South Africa’s catalogue to 38, 35 of which are known to be from iSimangaliso.
Among the 38 are three new fish found off Pumula on KZN's south coast between 2019 and March 2022. uMzumbe Canyon off Pumula is the next destination for the research team.
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Building on 20 years of coelacanth and ecosystem research, the Deep Connections project spans different disciplines and includes various international collaborations to apply cutting-edge techniques in coelacanth, ecosystem, and genetic pharmaceutical development research.
The project also includes social and cultural aspects that recognise the deep human connections with the ocean.
Calling for unified action for this year’s World Oceans Day, commemorated on 8 June, the Deep Connections team invites South Africans to celebrate biodiversity of oceans and the benefits of healthy oceans.