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FEATURE ARTICLE: THE MARIANA TRENCH
Written by Hannah Peterson
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May’s spotlight habitat is the trenches, so we want to feature one of the most famous trenches on the planet–The Mariana Trench. This famous trench is 1,580 miles long and 43 miles wide on average. It is located near the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Mariana Trench is the deepest in the world. It is home to the deepest part of the ocean, known as the Challenger Deep with a depth of 35,797 feet–almost 7 miles. Only 3 divers have ever explored this area. In 1960, Jacques Piccard and Navy Lt. Don Walsh took a trip down in a navy submarine. They couldn’t spend more than 20 minutes due to the pressure and stirred up too much dust to take photos. Yet, in their short visit, they reported signs of life including what looked like a flatfish. Fifty years later, the 3rd explorer took the trip down. James Cameron, a Hollywood filmmaker, took a solo trip in 2012 in a submarine he designed. He spent 3 hours in the Challenger Deep taking both photos and video. His observations indicated a fairly barren habitat. Prior to Cameron’s visit, George W. Bush had created the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument in 2009. This created a U.S. protected area over much of the Trench and requires research permits to visit. Unfortunately, this hasn’t stopped a slow accumulation of plastic waste in the Mariana Trench, so we need to work to protect it and not let it reach the levels of plastic pollution that many other ocean areas face.
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SPOTLIGHT HABITAT: THE TRENCHES
Written by Hannah Peterson
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The ocean trenches are found in the deepest parts of the ocean. They are a part of the “hadal zone” named after the Greek god of the underworld. Ocean trenches are long, narrow, and steep depressions created by tectonic plate activity–specifically subduction. Trenches account for a large portion of the seismic activity on Earth and are often the location of earthquakes. They can be found around the world, but most are in the Pacific Ocean. In ocean trenches, the water pressure is significantly greater–more than 1000 times, temperatures are frigid, and there is complete darkness. There are a diverse number of highly specialized species in this ocean zone that have adapted to these extreme conditions, many of which are still undiscovered. Survival is dependent on resisting the pressure and taking in energy from seafloor chemicals. Some species also thrive on organic matter that finds its way down from the ocean’s surface. Due to their extreme depth, the trenches are challenging to explore, limiting the research that has been done to date. However, advancements in technology can provide greater access to the ocean’s depths in the coming years.
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SPOTLIGHT SPECIES: BENTHIC COMB JELLIES
Written by Kiyas Kousoulas
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The word “benthic” means bottom, and that is exactly where you will find this month's spotlight species. In the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean, you can find benthic comb jellies. These gelatinous creatures have very simple, transparent bodies that are often covered in colorful bands. Although they only have a lifespan of a few months, these animals make the most of their time by floating around the ocean floor, eating plankton and larval organisms. Unlike many jellyfish, benthic comb jellies often don’t sting. This is because they actually aren’t jellyfish at all. What makes them so different though? Although they look very similar, benthic comb jellies actually belong to the phylum ctenophora, while jellyfish belong to the phylum cnidaria. One of the physical differences between jellyfish and benthic comb jellies is that jellyfish have tentacles and benthic comb jellies don’t. Instead, they have hair-like structures called cilia, and this cilia fuses together to create “combs.” They are also smaller than most types of jellyfish, most of them being no bigger than a few inches in size. These fascinating creatures have roamed the world’s oceans for over 500 million years and still are found all over ecosystems today.
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Earth Day Challenge
Check out Aeon's video about how he was making a difference this Earth Day! Also, take part in our Earth Day Challenge, continuing until May 22nd!
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OPPORTUNITIES AT AEON FOR OCEAN
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Are you interested in joining our team and helping to contribute to ocean conservation? We are currently looking to fill the following positions:
- Comic Illustrator
- Social Media Associate
- Graphic Designer
- Publishing Associate
- Director of Technology
- Director of Human Resources
- Director of Operations
More information can be found on our Volunteer Opportunities page.
Interested applicants can apply directly on our website using the link above.
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KRILL2WHALE PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
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What is Krill2Whale?
Krill2Whale (K2W) is a program focused on educating kids about marine life and oceans so they can then share that information with other children in both casual and formal presentation settings. The goal is to spread awareness on the importance of the marine ecosystem and to increase involvement in activities to save our oceans.
How does K2W benefit kids?
Not only will new K2W Ambassadors join a group of inspiring kids, make new friends, and learn about marine life, but they will also learn valuable life skills like public speaking, leadership, and planning. The K2W Ambassadors will be given the opportunity to present a 30-45 minute interactive presentation at schools and libraries and help organize events for their communities.
How can my child join?
Head to aeonforocean.org/krill2whale for more information. If you'd like to join, click “Join me” in the “Become a K2W Ambassador” section and complete the form. If you have further questions about the program, please send an email to info@aeonforocean.org.
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