A staff of scientists from Istanbul University (IU) has launched into an expedition into the depths of the Marmara Sea, using a robotic digital camera system to discover and doc the mysteries of its not often studied marine ecosystems.
With the expertise used within the analysis, researchers captured pictures of organisms thriving within the uncharted territories of this submerged world.
Descending to depths of roughly 200 meters (655 toes), the scientists are probing the enigmatic world the place daylight seldom reaches. The robotic digital camera not solely captures visuals of those deep-sea inhabitants but in addition data crucial gentle measurements, shedding gentle on the distinctive circumstances prevailing on this lightless realm.
Associate professor Bülent Topaloğlu from the Department of Marine Biology expressed the importance of this endeavor, stating, “For the first time in Türkiye, we are visually documenting these creatures using an underwater robot, and we aim to draw conclusions by analyzing these images.”
This formidable venture, spearheaded by IU’s Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, focuses on learning the distribution and biodiversity of organisms equivalent to sponges, corals and hydroids residing within the depths of the Marmara Sea. Over the course of two years, scientists launched into two analysis voyages aboard the college’s analysis vessel, “R/V Yunus-S,” to delve into the mysteries of this comparatively uncharted marine setting.
Topaloğlu highlighted the difficult nature of this analysis, saying, “Studying creatures at these depths presents significant difficulties. However, our underwater robot enables us to visually document these organisms and provides valuable insights. Additionally, we are collecting samples deemed crucial using the robot’s arm.”
He pressured on the groundbreaking nature of this analysis, emphasizing that such in-depth exploration of the Marmara Sea’s depths has been restricted in Türkiye. “By better understanding the dynamics of these communities, which exist in complete darkness beyond a certain depth, we can develop strategies for their protection,” Topaloğlu added.
Professor Nur Eda Topçu, one other key member of the staff, shared her perspective on the venture, revealing her long-standing analysis on corals within the Marmara Sea. “The corals in this region are truly unique. We have been diving to a depth of 40 meters with scuba gear in the islands region, south of Marmara, to study and monitor these extraordinary coral communities and their health.”
Topçu expressed the staff’s curiosity in regards to the unknown, saying: “We wanted to explore what lies beyond this depth. Hence, we initiated this project to identify the types of corals found at depths of 50 meters and beyond, their habitat preferences, and the accompanying sponges and hydroids.”
The IU staff repeatedly deployed a remotely operated automobile (ROV), outfitted with an underwater imaging system, into the Marmara Sea’s darkish abysses, capturing real-time pictures and gathering samples from the seabed. Furthermore, they developed a light-weight meter to file variations in gentle ranges from the ocean floor to its profound depths.
The knowledge and pictures amassed throughout this pioneering analysis can be painstakingly analyzed, body by body, providing invaluable insights for future scientific investigations.
Source: www.dailysabah.com