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Scientists uncover creatures of the deep





The mission, known as the Deep Australia project and funded by the Australian Research Council, used special low-light sensitive cameras that were custom designed to trawl the ocean floor.

Marshall says Osprey Reef is part of the Coral Sea Conservation Zone, which has been identified as an area of high conservation value. It's therefore important we study the ecosystems and species that live in this area, he says.

"We simply do not know what life is down there and our cameras can now record the behaviour and life in Australia's largest biosphere, the deep-sea."
Ancient nautilus

The researchers also collected footage of the nautilus, an ancient relative of the squid and octopus, which lives in a shell.

They measured these 'living fossils' to find out more about their biology before returning them to sea.

"Learning more about these creatures' primitive eyes and brain could help neuroscientists to better understand human vision," says research student Andy Dunstan.


Under threat




Scientists have already warned that the 345,000-square kilometre attraction is in serious jeopardy, as global warming and chemical run-off threaten to kill marine species and cause disease outbreaks.

In April, the Chinese coal ship Shen Neng 1 gouged a scar in the reef when it ran aground whilst attempting to take a short cut, leaking tonnes of oil into a famed nature sanctuary and breeding site.

Marshall says the cameras will now be sent to the sludge-ridden Gulf of Mexico to monitor the effects of the oil spill on marine life there.

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