The Salas y Gómez submarine ridge and its associated seamounts are well-known worldwide as a region with a high degree of endemism, meaning that many of the inhabiting species are not found anywhere else. However, its remote location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean prevents a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystems that are supported by this environment, and how they interact with their surroundings, as well as how they remain in a pristine state, and secluded of the effects of anthropogenic activities.
Obtaining a better knowledge and understanding of these regions is critical for the generation of a scientific basis to promote the adoption of protection measures for these maritime ecosystems; in these actions, the State had been an important actor at the international level, both related to national jurisdictional waters and the high-seas.
This study aims to identify the influence area of biological communities associated with seamounts positioned along the Salas y Gómez Ridge, as well as how these communities interact with their surroundings, creating a pathway of biological diversity that is thought to be able to connect regions separated by large distances in the Pacific Ocean Basin. These ecosystems may be modulated by the seafloor morphology, oceanic circulation, and the characteristics of the water column.
Therefore, in this investigation, several seamounts unknown to science – as well as their intrinsic biological diversity – will be mapped and characterized. The study will conduct analysis including multibeam bathymetric sounding, sampling of the water column at several depths to determine temperature, salinity, and pH, among other parameters, as well as biological and seafloor sediment sampling via a remote operated vehicle controlled from the vessel.
The role of our colleague will be to safeguard the State’s interests in accordance with the current regulations of marine scientific research in the maritime zone of national jurisdiction, as stated in Supreme Decree (MINDEF) N° 711 of August 22nd of 1975 and the Oceanographic Guidelines N° 3 (SHOA PUB. 3203).
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