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In these gigantic areas, oxygen is almost completely absent. Studying the microorganisms that develop there is the goal of the scientific mission of the Tara Océan Foundation. The ambition: to understand their impact on the climate …
In this gigantic area, oxygen is almost completely absent. Large organisms such as fish therefore cannot survive there. To discover the life hidden in this extreme environment and its potential impact on the climate, the Tara Ocean Foundation visited the site. These Minimum Oxygen Zones or OMZs exist all around the globe. They are formed by natural mechanisms and they can also impact human activities. “What the OMZ does is push certain organisms back to the surface, since they flee the lack of oxygen, and therefore they are more available for fisheries.“, explains Camila Fernandez, chief scientist aboard Tara.
Another challenge: understanding how these OMZs can amplify climate change or, conversely, limit it. “Obviously, there are fewer macroscopic organisms. But in reality, it is a real natural laboratory, full of life, full of microbial diversity, and we know that there are microorganisms like cyanobacteria, bacteria that do not need light to exist. and who do not need oxygen to exist and who can use these greenhouse gases“, develops the scientist.
Thus, the Tara microbiomes expedition, believes Camila Fernandez, contributes enormously to understanding the diversity of these Minimum Oxygen Zones, the climatic role, who lives there, what they do, how they can ensure to survive in such extreme conditions … But also how they can help us by recycling greenhouse gases.