Chinese scientists have mapped the first-ever comprehensive ecosystem portrait of the Mariana Trench, the Earth’s deepest oceanic region. 

The findings challenge long-standing assumptions that such extreme environments are devoid of life, revealing a diverse and resilient microbial and animal community, as reported by
CGTN, a partner of TV BRICS.

Using advanced technology, researchers collected samples with China’s deep-sea submersible, which descended to the trench’s 11,000-metre depths in 2020. Analysis of over 1,600 microbial specimens and 11 fish species uncovered 7,564 microbial species, with 89.4 per cent previously unknown to science. This diversity rivals the total documented marine microbial life worldwide, the source claimed.

The study highlights new survival strategies, with trench-dwelling organisms demonstrating unique antioxidant mechanisms to protect against cellular damage caused by extreme pressure. These adaptations could inspire breakthroughs in medical research, particularly in ageing and disease resistance.

To advance global scientific collaboration, researchers have established the world’s first large-scale microbial database, sharing data through the Mariana Consensus framework.

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