Deep sea find reveals methane fueled ecosystem in hadal trenches

Scientists report a methane-based ecosystem thriving in the hadal zone, powered by chemosynthesis rather than sunlight.

Deep sea find reveals methane fueled ecosystem in hadal trenches

Between 5800 and 9500 meters depth in trenches between Russia and Alaska, researchers used a deep-sea submersible to explore a 2,500-kilometer stretch of the hadal zone. They found methane-producing microbes and organisms such as clams and tube worms that rely on chemosynthesis to obtain energy rather than sunlight. The findings were published in Nature on July 30, and they suggest this methane-driven ecosystem may occur in other deep trenches.

Sediment analysis showed high methane levels, and researchers propose that microbes convert organic matter to methane, which fuels the food chain. This expands the role of hadal trenches in the carbon cycle and positions them as potential methane sinks. The Global Hadal Exploration Program, co-led by UNESCO and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aims to broaden international collaboration in studying these depths.

The study reframes the deep sea as an active, methane-based web of life that thrives without sunlight. It demonstrates how advanced equipment and cross-border teamwork can push the boundaries of our knowledge and reshape models of the carbon cycle.

Yet every discovery invites questions about governance, funding, and how quickly new findings should inform policy and climate models. As nations push to map and study the deepest realms, scrutiny over data sharing, funding, and potential benefits will grow and shape future collaborations.

Highlights

The deep ocean keeps widening our map of life and the carbon cycle.