MBARI scientists participated in the 16th Annual Whalefest Monterey, sharing their latest research and technology—from studying the ecology of whales to advancing AI tools with @fathomverse.bsky.social—to help inspire a new generation of ocean explorers.
Learn more: www.mbari.org/news/mbari-i...
My inner 10-year-old is super stoked - I used to go on school field trips to visit @whoi.edu, and now I’m at sea doing real science with the ROV Jason II. We’re officially BFFs forever #SnailsRising
Check out the paper here!
bioone.org/journals/ich...
Our anglerfish research made it into the New York Times!!! Beyond excited to see the love for these weirdos and their infamous lures! 🧪🐟🌊🦇
“How Female Anglerfish Evolved to Have It All” by Kate Golembiewski @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/17/s...
Mr working on the DeepPIV laptop with EyeRIS computer on the right. A wall of monitors to operate the vehicle is shown behind me. Photo credit: Joost Daniels
Our setup in the ROV SuBastian Control Room with DeepPIV computer on the left and EyeRIS on the right. #Designingthefuture3
❤️ Follow along as we dive off the coast of Brazil looking for undescribed marine life. 🦑🧪 bsky.app/profile/burn...
These wondrous worms build their homes directly on the rocky vent chimneys where temperatures can reach up to 105 degrees Celsius (221 degrees Fahrenheit). 🔥
Pompeii worms (Alvinella pompejana) live on hydrothermal vent “chimneys,” where superheated water belches from within the Earth’s crust.
📢 Deadline for Deep-Sea Life Issue 26 has been extended!
🗓️ New deadline is 21 April 2026
Share your work, cruises, papers & opportunities with the global #DeepSea community.
Send submissions (~250-500 words) to Chris Barrio at: c.BarrioFrojan@soton.ac.uk
See past issues:
Left to right: Emily, Marko, Joost, and myself on the Falkor Too as we depart Salvador on the Designing the Future 3 expedition with Schmidt Ocean Institute.
The aft deck of Falkor Too leaving the port of Salvador Bahia Brazil. Tug boat follows behind.
The helipad of Falkor Too facing seaward.
And we’re off! Goodbye Salvador Bahia. Next stop: ocean’s 🌊midwaters. Hoping to come across MANY undescribed animals 🦑 and do some science. 🧪 Can’t wait!! #DesigningtheFuture3 @schmidtocean.bsky.social @mbarinews.bsky.social
Officially on my way to Fiji to join my FIRST EVER hydrothermal vent cruise - the #SnailsRising expedition led by @symbiosisrox.bsky.social @larvallab.bsky.social - More updates soon, wish me luck with my stupidly large Pelican Cooler luggage
Na senda de partilhar o património natural em forma de jardim de coral, faz hoje um mês que publiquei o meu último artigo. E deixem que vos mostre como afinal a ciência fundamental raramente financiada, ainda cativa a nossa alma exploratória:
1- Entrevista ao @acoriano_oriental
2- ao @publico.pt
![[Image: Crypthelia vascomarquesi fragment at 5 mm magnification.]
"It was the summer of 2012 when the #DEEPFUN cruise lead RV Thalassa with the ROV Victor 6000 to the Menez Gwen Marine Protected Area (MPA). The expedition aimed to explore unfamiliar ground, never seen before in the 70 ROV dives of previous expeditions on the #MPA, around the hydrothermal vent field. Crypth'Hill was found 5 km away from the vents, with a brand new coral garden discovered between 832 and 856 m depth.
This coral garden is unique because it is the first vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) formed by the genus Crypthelia found in the world. It is also the 16th stylasterid coral garden reported for the deep sea."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ckrzdo7lvgyidayr6adznflp/bafkreig5cimpgmqmquuf4cmz6rxtxfnzqkt5gp6v5hitjfcshnjfoakree)
[Image: Crypthelia vascomarquesi fragment at 5 mm magnification.] "It was the summer of 2012 when the #DEEPFUN cruise lead RV Thalassa with the ROV Victor 6000 to the Menez Gwen Marine Protected Area (MPA). The expedition aimed to explore unfamiliar ground, never seen before in the 70 ROV dives of previous expeditions on the #MPA, around the hydrothermal vent field. Crypth'Hill was found 5 km away from the vents, with a brand new coral garden discovered between 832 and 856 m depth. This coral garden is unique because it is the first vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) formed by the genus Crypthelia found in the world. It is also the 16th stylasterid coral garden reported for the deep sea."
![[Image: Collage of Crypthelia vascomarquesi branches and corals at 0.01 cm and 1 cm.]
"Stylasterids have high endemism rates. This monospecific coral garden is formed by Crypthelia vascomarquesi, a species only known from the Portuguese archipelagos of Azores and Madeira. The first monospecific #VME formed by a stylasterid in the Azores covers at least 73 meters with a maximum density of 70 colonies per meter, and associated species of fish and marine invertebrates (other corals, sponges, fish and crabs).
The species C. vascomarquesi was named in honor of Vasco Monteiro Marques, a Portuguese biologist that during the 70/80s dove with Helmut Zibrowius, author of the species. Both had spotted the first Atlantic specimens of Corallium rubrum in Algarve."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ckrzdo7lvgyidayr6adznflp/bafkreibhke67m2fnrmo4k4muxzaor4i6qtsh5rxckdlvnmsavrjqsfndmi)
[Image: Collage of Crypthelia vascomarquesi branches and corals at 0.01 cm and 1 cm.] "Stylasterids have high endemism rates. This monospecific coral garden is formed by Crypthelia vascomarquesi, a species only known from the Portuguese archipelagos of Azores and Madeira. The first monospecific #VME formed by a stylasterid in the Azores covers at least 73 meters with a maximum density of 70 colonies per meter, and associated species of fish and marine invertebrates (other corals, sponges, fish and crabs). The species C. vascomarquesi was named in honor of Vasco Monteiro Marques, a Portuguese biologist that during the 70/80s dove with Helmut Zibrowius, author of the species. Both had spotted the first Atlantic specimens of Corallium rubrum in Algarve."
![[Image: Bathymetry map and dive locations of Menez’Gwen/Bubbylon coral-sites (bathymetry courtesy of MARUM) and a photograph of coral garden.]
"Specimens collected during #DEEPFUN cruise were crucial for the species identification, allowing the re-description of C. vascomarquesi with entire specimens, including females that have a unique ampullar formula for the genus.
This discovery has highlighted the natural heritage already protected from direct impacts inside Menez Gwen MPA. The VME is a rare record of highly endemic corals that should be included at the European habitat classification system to guarantee its conservation, scientific study and monitoring of the MPA. The discovery has been published recently at Marine Biodiversity."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ckrzdo7lvgyidayr6adznflp/bafkreiaev2357qgetkf3sby75clwm6fnmbkugal3z6x2hao3mpygdf4rai)
[Image: Bathymetry map and dive locations of Menez’Gwen/Bubbylon coral-sites (bathymetry courtesy of MARUM) and a photograph of coral garden.] "Specimens collected during #DEEPFUN cruise were crucial for the species identification, allowing the re-description of C. vascomarquesi with entire specimens, including females that have a unique ampullar formula for the genus. This discovery has highlighted the natural heritage already protected from direct impacts inside Menez Gwen MPA. The VME is a rare record of highly endemic corals that should be included at the European habitat classification system to guarantee its conservation, scientific study and monitoring of the MPA. The discovery has been published recently at Marine Biodiversity."
Hey, members!
Today Íris Sampaio / @irissampaio.bsky.social shares exciting news about the 2012 #DEEPFUN cruise & Menez Gwen #MPA in the #Azores: the first discovery of a vulnerable marine ecosystem / #VME structured by Crypthelia!
Read more in AltText (& here): link.springer.com/article/10.1...
From Pixels to Policy 🌊
📅 14 April | 📍 SENAI CIMATEC
A Challenger 150 side event at #AAORIAForum2026 exploring how seabed biodiversity data can inform decision-making.
Register here: buff.ly/dPhwh6F
New paper out in Biology Letters!
Tubulanus lutescens occurs in shallow Swedish waters and deep-sea methane seeps off Costa Rica — same species revealed by genome scale data, across oceans and extreme depths 🤯
👩🔬 Led by Christina Sagorny
#MarineBiology #DeepSea #Nemertea
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
TONIGHT at 7:30pm (ET) — explore the deepest, darkest mysteries on Earth at Ocean Encounters!
👉 Register for this free, live virtual event: go.whoi.edu/into-the-abyss
+ASL interpretation for Zoom viewers🤟
#OceanEncounters is an official event of the @unoceandecade.bsky.social
📣 Submissions for Deep-Sea Life Issue 26 is open!
🗓️ Deadline: 13 April
Share your work, cruises, papers, opportunities & more with the global deep-sea community. Short, punchy pieces (~250–500 words).
👉 Submit to Chris Barrio at: c.BarrioFrojan@soton.ac.uk
See past issues: buff.ly/0OPkTEf
Happy #CtenophoreCtuesday! Enjoy this bloody-belly comb jelly (Lampocteis cruentiventer) for your moment of zen 🔊🪼 The color red is nearly invisible in deep-sea allowing these jellies to hide from potential predators. Credit video to @mbarinews.bsky.social.
#sciart #science #scicomm #ctenophore
🧪📍🌊 🦑🍎 using GO-BGC data to reveal trends in nitrogen cycling in oxygen deficient zones
www.mbari.org/news/mbari-t...
Cool globe map with the text: The Global Deep Sea Exploration Goals 10,000 locations Every ocean basin The first truly global look at the deep seafloor
The initiative is supported by an interactive map where you can explore the points & how they were selected, thanks to @sepoulton.bsky.social & @novysan.bsky.social
The targets are live. The map is open. And we are just getting started. Come join us!
global-deep-sea-exploration-goals.vercel.app
We've only seen 0.001% of the deep ocean until now Global Deep Sea Exploration Goals 10,000 locations Every ocean basin The first truly global look at the deep seafloor Ocean Discovery League
I'm over the moon to share the Global Deep Sea Exploration Goals, a culmination of years of effort developing the idea, methodology, and strategy by the team at @oceandiscleague.bsky.social
www.oceandiscoveryleague.org/global-deep-...
A colour photograph of showing a sand and gravel seabed, with a small fish and some coral species.
📢#JobOpportunity #WeAreSeeking a motivated Marine Ecosystems Scientist to contribute to an exciting & evolving area of work focused on operationalising benthic habitat indicators for a range of policy applications. bit.ly/JNCCjob202573 Closing date: Sunday 19 April 2026
[New Paper] @royalsocietypublishing.org Biology Letters presents a global barcoding (180 individuals) of the deep-sea snail genus Phymorhynchus from hot vents & cold seeps, revealing few species with very broad and sometimes cosmopolitan distributions!
OPEN ACCESS: doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
🌊🧪🦑
"These findings underscore the urgent need for expanded systematic deep-sea research and data collection, and increased capacity sharing and technology transfer, to inform future ocean stewardship in Trinidad and Tobago."
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
🌊🧪🦑
"Given that all five animals are classified as Endangered or Vulnerable & play a vital role in the ecology of hydrothermal vents, understanding the factors influencing the success & connectivity of their symbionts is crucial for conservation & management"
academic.oup.com/ismecommun/a...
🌊🧪🦑"In response to the need for improved taxonomic knowledge of the CCZ fauna, the ISA initiated the Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative: One Thousand Reasons campaign, aiming to describe 1000 species new to science before the end of the decade"
zookeys.pensoft.net/article/1767...
SEMINAR SERIES SPRING 2026 REBECCA VARNEY Assistant Professor University of Nebraska-Lincoln Iron-clad teeth and 1,000 eyes: How invertebrates highlight the evolution of biomaterials WEDNESDAY, APR 8 Ecology Building, Rm. 201 10:15 a.m. #UGAEcology on in UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA Odum School of Ecology Sign up to receive Eco Seminar recordings ecology.uga.edu/ecoseminars26 口就$口
Hosting @rebeccavarney.bsky.social for a talk @ugaecology.bsky.social next week!
🧪📍🌊 🦑🍎 the latest from @mbarinews.bsky.social - Vampire squid is not a squid - and eats snow ;-) youtu.be/JgytSJNKrkE?...
The NORMAR team has been testing the brand new Hugin AUV prior to its delivery to the University of Bergen facilities in April. Exciting times for deep ocean research in the North Atlantic! (Photos: Maja Jæger/NORMAR)
In this week's Deep-Sea Round-Up, we explore:
🔹️Kelp degradation in the deep sea,
🔹️Lace coral gardens, and
🔹️eDNA from submarine canyons.
📷 tubeworm at the Von Damm hydrothermal field from NOAA Ocean Exploration, Mid-Cayman Rise Expedition 2011.
Read it here: www.dosi-project.org/dosi-deep-se...
2️⃣ species described by Scripps Oceanography scientists landed on the Top 10 New Marine Species list from @marinespecies.bsky.social, announced today on #TaxonomistAppreciationDay! 🪱 Meet Iskra’s glitter worm and Elven abyss tunicate. ⤵️
https://bit.ly/3Ns7ihU
