Ancient Underwater Volcano Surprisingly Harbors Active Life, Giant Eggs off Canada's Pacific Coast

During their exploration of an ancient underwater volcano off Canada's Pacific coast, researchers made astonishing discoveries. Contrary to their initial belief that the volcano was extinct and the waters cold, they found it to be active and covered in numerous giant eggs. The underwater mountain, towering 3,600 feet above the seafloor, emitted warm water and was adorned with deep-sea corals.

According to Live Science, the mineral-rich hot fluid created a cozy environment for certain marine creatures to thrive in the depths. To their amazement, the researchers even witnessed a Pacific white skate (Bathyraja spinosissima) maneuvering amidst the corals and laying eggs on the summit, nearly a mile below the surface.

Active Underwater Volcano Teeming With Marine Life

Deep-sea marine biologist Cherisse Du Preez, leading the expedition, described the underwater volcano as an extraordinary location. He told Live Science that the discovery of a Pacific white skate nursery, with thousands of eggs covering the summit, surpassed any previous findings.

Estimated to be much larger than a similar nursery in the Galápagos, Du Preez speculated the number of eggs to range from hundreds of thousands to even millions, each measuring about 1.5 feet in diameter.

The expedition team achieved another groundbreaking feat by capturing footage of a Pacific white skate laying eggs, a first-ever record. This finding supported previous observations near hydrothermal vents in the Galápagos, indicating that skate mothers utilize the volcanic warmth to incubate their eggs, likely shortening the gestation period and increasing the number of viable offspring.

The shallow summit of the seamount, abundant with corals, offered a secure nursery for the juvenile skates to grow before venturing into deeper waters, providing an advantageous environment for their development.

Despite the significance of this discovery, the researchers are concerned about the seamount's future. Currently unprotected, it may face threats from fishing activities. The team intends to continue monitoring the site to understand its dynamics and importance as a nursery habitat.

The findings emphasize the crucial role of vent habitats in nurturing marine life and contributing to the overall health of the ocean, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to preserve these vulnerable ecosystems.

Pacific White Skates Incubate Their Eggs Near Underwater Volcanoes

In 2018, National Geographic reported that scientists have made a rare discovery of the Pacific white skate residing near hydrothermal vents almost two miles deep in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

In June 2015, researchers operating a remotely operated vehicle found numerous egg-casings of the skate atop a hydrothermal vent. They collected four of these egg cases for DNA analysis, revealing that the skate uses the vents as nurseries, a behavior previously undocumented in skates.

The scientists believe the skates may be utilizing the vents to accelerate the incubation process for their eggs, as it takes longer in colder waters. Incubation periods for these egg cases could exceed four years, based on the time required for a related skate species in the Berendt Sea and considering the depth and temperature of the water surrounding the vent.

However, this estimation is considered conservative, emphasizing the uniqueness and importance of this discovery. Dr. Pelayo Salinas-de-León, a National Geographic Society Explorer leading the study, highlights the significance of understanding these little-known habitats and their role in supporting deep-sea life.