The head of the Ocean Benthic Laboratory at PP said that the proportion of marine life known to humans is about 10%. Institute of Oceanography in a conversation with reporters. Shirshov RAS, Doctor of Biological Sciences Andrey Gebruk. About this write RIA Novosti.
In early February, Gebruk reported that the ancient inhabitants of the ocean could not have survived to this day, as climate changes on Earth throughout its history have affected ocean fauna.
The scientist explains that the water circulation system covers all depths, and therefore the fauna not only on land but also in water is restructured: some species appear and survive, some die.
Journalists asked the head of the LDFO to reveal how many animal species, according to the latest scientific data, live in the ocean.
“Experts do not have a clear answer to this question. According to scientists, we are only familiar with 10-20% of marine species,” Gebroek admitted.
The researcher clarifies that fewer species are described rather than more. Experts say the 10% estimate is closest to the truth.
Previously it was reported that marine geologists from the EU and the United States used the method of analyzing the genetic material of the environment and carried out mass sequencing of 1.7 thousand samples from deep-sea sediments, collected during 15 marine expeditions. As a result, they obtained 2 billion DNA sequences.
Scientists compared them to a global plankton DNA database and all known sequences. They were unable to identify nearly two-thirds of the benthic fauna's DNA and determine to which group the sequence might belong.
