Core Insights - An international research team led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences has discovered the world's deepest and largest chemosynthetic ecosystem in the Northwest Pacific, specifically in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and Aleutian Trench, at a depth of 9,533 meters [1][2] - The research, published on July 30 in the journal "Nature," reveals a thriving chemosynthetic community that does not rely on sunlight for energy, instead utilizing chemical reactions from geological fluids [1][2] - This discovery challenges existing beliefs about the survival of life at extreme depths and provides new perspectives on the complex mechanisms of deep-sea carbon cycling [1][2] Ecosystem Characteristics - The chemosynthetic communities observed are primarily composed of deep-sea tube worms and bivalve mollusks, which sustain themselves on fluids rich in hydrogen sulfide and methane [1] - The study indicates that methane in these environments is produced by microbial activity deep within sediment layers, suggesting the existence of a vast and active deep biosphere beneath the abyssal seafloor [2] - This process may sequester significant amounts of organic carbon from the upper ocean, forming large methane reservoirs in the form of natural gas hydrates, thereby challenging traditional models of deep-sea carbon cycling [2] Implications for Research - The findings directly contest the traditional view that abyssal ecosystems primarily rely on organic particles and animal remains from the ocean surface [2] - The research suggests that chemosynthetic life may play a more crucial role in abyssal ecosystems than previously thought, significantly influencing their structure and function [2] - The study is part of the "Global Abyss Exploration Program," initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which aims to uncover the mysteries of the deep abyss using advanced submersible technology [2]