Role of deep-sea equipment in promoting the forefront of studies on life in extreme environments

Abstract

Summary: The deep-sea environment creates the largest ecosystem in the world with the largest biological community and extensive undiscovered biodiversity. Nevertheless, these ecosystems are far from well known. Deep-sea equipment is an indispensable approach to research life in extreme environments in the deep-sea environment because of the difficulty in obtaining access to these unique habitats. This work reviewed the historical development and the state-of-the-art of deep-sea equipment suitable for researching extreme ecosystems, to clarify the role of this equipment as a promoter for the progress of life in extreme environmental studies. Linkages of the developed deep-sea equipment and the discovered species are analyzed in this study. In addition, Equipment associated with researching the deep-sea ecosystems of hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, whale falls, seamounts, and oceanic trenches are introduced and analyzed in detail. To clarify the thrust and key points of the future promotion of life in extreme environmental studies, prospects and challenges related to observing equipment, samplers, laboratory simulation systems, and submersibles are proposed. Furthermore, a blueprint for the integration of in situ observations, sampling, controllable culture, manned experiments in underwater environments, and laboratory simulations is depicted for future studies.

Keywords

• Earth sciences
• Environmental science
• Ecology
• Aquatic science
• Oceanography