Discoveries

Among discoveries made during the first three years of CoML projects (some of which are summarized in the Baseline Report):

• The results of tracking west coast salmon in the past two years challenge traditional notions about the survival of young salmon as they leave their home rivers and enter the ocean. Understanding life for salmon at sea may be key to maintaining their populations. The Census is creating an underwater observation system that will enable tracking of tagged salmon and marine animals anywhere on the continental shelf.
• Attached to the dorsal fins of three species of Pacific sharks are electronic tags that regularly communicate with satellites, enabling documentation of migration patterns. Similar technology has recorded trans-Pacific migrations of bluefin tuna. These fish, sharks, turtles and elephant seals are helping Census researchers record and report the vertical structure of the vast oceans.
• Less than 10 miles off the Florida Keys, scientists recently discovered a new species (and perhaps new genus) of sponge - bright red and nicknamed the "rasta sponge". Chemical compounds found in it may help treat cancerous tumors.
• CoML deep-sea researchers exploring the abyssal sediments off Angola found an environment with more species per area than in any other known aquatic environment on Earth. About 80 % of the collected species were new to science (more than 500 suspected new species have been recognized in samples so far with a final total of 1,000 expected). The research will improve understanding of the relationship between deep-sea species diversity and the richness of food productivity in the water column and help pre
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