NOAA researchers capture rare footage of a Pacific sleeper shark in the Tonga Trench, shedding light on this elusive deep-sea species.
A remarkable sighting of a Pacific sleeper shark at a depth of 4,593 feet (1,400 meters) on the eastern side of the Tonga Trench has provided scientists with a glimpse into the life of this elusive deep-sea giant. The discovery, made during a NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research expedition, occurred in an area with frigid water temperatures of 36.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 degrees Celsius).
This sighting is particularly significant because Pacific sleeper sharks are seldom studied, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. While primarily found in the North Pacific, occasional observations in the Southern Hemisphere suggest a broader distribution than previously thought. These slow-moving sharks are opportunistic predators and scavengers, feeding on a diverse range of prey from slow-moving bottom-dwellers to carcasses and even fast-swimming fish. Despite their size and ecological importance, they remain poorly understood. “Yet we still know little about even its most basic biology,” said Beth Matta, research fisheries biologist at the NOAA Fisheries. Ongoing research by the Center aims to estimate their longevity using radiocarbon dating techniques. Dr. Andrew Kolbusz, a research fellow with the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre, suggests that the Pacific sleeper shark’s growth rate may be similar to that of the Greenland shark, another deep-sea species known to live for centuries. This remarkable longevity, coupled with their slow growth and unique feeding habits, positions sleeper sharks as key players in deep-sea ecosystems. The expedition was part of a broader effort to explore biodiversity and species abundance across depths ranging from 3,280 to 32,808 ft (1,000 to 10,000 m) in the Tonga Trench. The trench, one of the deepest oceanic trenches in the world, plays a vital role in global ocean circulation. Formed at the convergent boundary where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Indo-Australian Plate, it creates a unique and largely unexplored habitat teeming with organisms adapted to the harsh conditions of high pressure, low temperatures, and limited light. The trench also plays a critical role in global ocean circulation as Antarctic Bottom Water flows through the region, transporting oxygen and nutrients to deep-sea ecosystems. Understanding the trench’s biodiversity is essential for studying deep-sea ecosystems and grasping its role in regulating the Earth’s climate system.Kolbusz noted that the individual shark filmed during the expedition was estimated to be about 3.5 meters long. The rare footage captured during the expedition offers an up-close view of the shark feeding on the bait provided. While researchers were able to observe rows of teeth on this deep-sea giant, the full range of its dental adaptations remains a mystery due to limited studies. However, Kolbusz and the team hope this new video adds to the information we have on their feeding behavior. And while the sleeper shark was a highlight of the expedition, it was far from the only discovery. “On this expedition, at these depths, we observed a few unique species including a Richardson’s ray, cut-throat eels, whiplash squids and blue hakes,” she noted in a statement. As research continues, scientists hope to unravel more of the sleeper shark’s mysteries. From understanding its age and growth to mapping its habitat range, each new piece of information brings us closer to better protecting the intricate web of life in our ocean’s depths
Pacific Sleeper Shark Tonga Trench Deep Sea Ocean Exploration NOAA Biodiversity
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