A mountain range starts off the coast of Galápagos Islands and ends south of Costa Rica — as part of the Galápagos Marine Reserve, it exists in one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. In this near-pristine underwater habitat, deep-sea corals are extremely important, providing homes for fish, crustaceans and a host of other creatures, but conditions are changing because of climate change.
The Ocean is losing oxygen, which all animals need to survive, and the water is becoming more acidic. An international, interdisciplinary team of scientists on R/V Falkor (too) are examining the biodiversity in Oxygen Minimum Zones to learn which animals are adapting, and which aren’t. The research made on the #CliffReefs expedition will advance efforts to manage fisheries, gauge human impact, and inform future conservation efforts.
