Scientists find more than 1,000 species hidden in the sea in Brazil

A study published in the journal Biological Conservation identified more than a thousand marine species living in rhodolith banks on the Brazilian coast, considered the largest in the world.

Known as "rolling stone reefs", rhodoliths are structures slowly formed by calcareous algae over centuries. Despite their discreet appearance, researchers claim that these environments are home to biodiversity that can rival - or even surpass - that of coral reefs.

The research used environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to identify organisms present on seabeds. According to scientists, some of the species detected may be new to science.

"These algae beds certainly harbor a much greater diversity than currently recognized," says study author Guilherme Pereira-Filho, marine biologist at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP).

The study analyzed deposits located on the Queimada Grande Islands and the Abrolhos archipelago, where the largest known bank of rhodoliths on the planet is located, measuring more than 20 thousand square kilometers.

Researchers collected samples between 10 and 60 meters deep. In the laboratory, the rhodoliths were crushed for genetic analysis using a technique called metabarcoding, which allows multiple species to be identified in a single sample.

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According to the authors, rhodoliths function as "habitat engineers", creating reef-like structures that serve as shelter for fish, algae and small invertebrates.

The study also raised awareness about threats to Brazilian marine banks, including trawling, ocean acidification, mining and oil exploration.

Concern increased after the Brazilian government announced plans for oil exploration near the mouth of the Amazon River, a region where scientists recently identified a new bed of rhodoliths measuring around 9,500 square kilometers.

Researchers warn that damage from drilling or spills could take decades to reverse, as rhodoliths grow very slowly - often less than a millimeter per year.

Source: CNN