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.

Approaches to Unmask Functioning of the Uncultured Microbial Majority From Extreme Habitats on the Seafloor

“…Research into these microbial consortia and the processes they mediate is, however, often constrained by technical capabilities, as is particularly evident in deep-sea research ( Fortunato et al, 2021 ). Thus, sampling hard accessible deep-sea environments is already a technical and logistical challenge, requiring the development of specialized underwater devices ( Liang et al, 2021 ; Paulus, 2021 ). Over the past decades a variety of ocean deployable sampling instrumentation have been developed ( McQuillan and Robidart, 2017 ).…”

“…Over the past decades a variety of ocean deployable sampling instrumentation have been developed ( McQuillan and Robidart, 2017 ). Yet, only a few of them are suited to retrieve samples from extreme deep-sea habitats and are able to withstand the high pressures and corrosive hot fluids ( Reysenbach and Götz, 2001 ; Liang et al, 2021 ). Transporting the samples from the deep-sea through the water column to the research vessel laboratory poses further inherent limitations as the samples are exposed to physico-chemical changes (e.g., changes in pressure, temperature, light, pH, redox state etc.)…”

“…This is essential if aiming to understand the role of microbes for ocean ecosystem functioning. Deep-sea sensors are efficient tools for observing local geochemistry, allowing real-time monitoring of certain key chemical variables such as pH, dissolved H 2 , H 2 S, CH 4 , CO 2 , and dissolved inorganic nutrients ( Luther et al, 2001 ; Moore et al, 2009 ; Petersen et al, 2011 ; Wankel et al, 2011 ; Perner et al, 2013 ; Daniel et al, 2020 ; Gros et al, 2021 ; Liang et al, 2021 ; Mowlem et al, 2021 ). However, technical limitations require that various chemical parameters still have to be determined ex situ ( Mowlem et al, 2021 ).…”

Strength Prediction of Spherical Electronic Cabins with Pitting Corrosion

“…The exploration and exploitation of the ocean has gradually shifted from shallow sea to deep sea [1]. Underwater experimental devices have been successfully placed at the seafloor by submersibles to automatically measure and record data electronically [2]. There are still many experiments and scientific studies that require the placement of electronic devices at the seafloor and their prolonged residence at the seafloor, such as the monitoring of submarine earthquakes and the monitoring of the hydrological environment [3][4][5].…”

“…However, the deep sea environment is characterized by high pressure, intense salinity, sediments, sea mud, and a wide variety of animals, plants, and microorganisms. This extreme environmental characteristic has strict requirements on the high pressure and corrosion resistance of the pressure electronic cabin [2]. Among them, corrosion severely affects the life of electronic cabins on the seabed.…”