Research project: Structure of deep-sea invertebrate assemblages, especially Isopoda
- Start date:
- USA National Science Foundation (NSF), Minerals Management Service
Although the deep sea is difficult place to live, there are millions of undescribed species. The deep-sea floor is the largest ecosystem on this planet: the average depth of the oceans is around 4.2 kilometres, comprising approximately 65% of the planet's surface. Nevertheless, we know much less about the structure and function of the deep-sea fauna than (for example) the rocky intertidal zone, which makes up a minuscule proportion of the global environment.
Of more immediate importance, most of Australia's marine Exclusive Economic Zone is in the deep sea (depths exceeding 200 metres) and yet this area is largely unexplored. In the last 30 years, deep-sea floor faunas have been discovered to have incredibly high species diversities, despite living at low individual densities.
Dr George D. F. (Buz) Wilson , Principal Research Scientist