20,000 Octopuses nesting near the base of an extinct underwater volcano
August 29, 2023 7:39 PM Subscribe
Scientists solve mystery of why thousands of octopus migrate to deep-sea thermal springs
Deep below the ocean’s surface just off the Central California coast, thousands of octopus gather near an extinct underwater volcano. The Octopus Garden is the largest known aggregation of octopus anywhere in the world.
Researchers from NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Nautilus Live first observed thousands of pearl octopus (Muusoctopus robustus) nesting on the deep seafloor near Davidson Seamount in 2018. Their discovery captured the curiosity of millions of people around the world, including MBARI scientists. For three years, MBARI and a team of collaborators used high-tech tools to monitor the Octopus Garden and learn exactly why this site is so attractive for deep-sea octopus.
Using cutting-edge technology—including many instruments designed by MBARI engineers—MBARI researchers and our collaborators from NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the University of New Hampshire, and the Field Museum confirmed that Muusoctopus gather at the Octopus Garden to mate and nest.
Female pearl octopus nest in cracks and crevices bathed by warm water. Warmth from deep-sea thermal springs accelerates the development of octopus eggs. Scientists believe the shorter brooding period increases a hatchling octopus’ odds for survival.
The size of the Octopus Garden—likely more than 20,000 total octopus nests—and the abundance of other marine life that thrives there underscores the need to understand and protect hotspots of life on the deep seafloor from threats like climate change and seabed mining.
Learn more: https://mbari.co/OctopusGarden
Deep below the ocean’s surface just off the Central California coast, thousands of octopus gather near an extinct underwater volcano. The Octopus Garden is the largest known aggregation of octopus anywhere in the world.
Researchers from NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Nautilus Live first observed thousands of pearl octopus (Muusoctopus robustus) nesting on the deep seafloor near Davidson Seamount in 2018. Their discovery captured the curiosity of millions of people around the world, including MBARI scientists. For three years, MBARI and a team of collaborators used high-tech tools to monitor the Octopus Garden and learn exactly why this site is so attractive for deep-sea octopus.
Using cutting-edge technology—including many instruments designed by MBARI engineers—MBARI researchers and our collaborators from NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the University of New Hampshire, and the Field Museum confirmed that Muusoctopus gather at the Octopus Garden to mate and nest.
Female pearl octopus nest in cracks and crevices bathed by warm water. Warmth from deep-sea thermal springs accelerates the development of octopus eggs. Scientists believe the shorter brooding period increases a hatchling octopus’ odds for survival.
The size of the Octopus Garden—likely more than 20,000 total octopus nests—and the abundance of other marine life that thrives there underscores the need to understand and protect hotspots of life on the deep seafloor from threats like climate change and seabed mining.
Learn more: https://mbari.co/OctopusGarden
it was okay when they liked a nice schvitz, this feels like prying
posted by Iris Gambol at 8:24 PM on August 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 8:24 PM on August 29, 2023 [3 favorites]
Octo-moot.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:13 PM on August 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by blue_beetle at 11:13 PM on August 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Scientists solve mystery of why thousands of octopus migrate to deep-sea thermal springs
Is it because it's nice and warm
Female pearl octopus nest in cracks and crevices bathed by warm water. Warmth from deep-sea thermal springs accelerates the development of octopus eggs.
Nailed it
posted by EndsOfInvention at 12:36 AM on August 30, 2023 [19 favorites]
Is it because it's nice and warm
Female pearl octopus nest in cracks and crevices bathed by warm water. Warmth from deep-sea thermal springs accelerates the development of octopus eggs.
Nailed it
posted by EndsOfInvention at 12:36 AM on August 30, 2023 [19 favorites]
Two years is considered rapid development time for octopus eggs, what are moms eating during that time?
posted by eustatic at 3:39 AM on August 30, 2023
posted by eustatic at 3:39 AM on August 30, 2023
It's because the resident house musician is Lenny Crevasse.
posted by srboisvert at 3:39 AM on August 30, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 3:39 AM on August 30, 2023 [6 favorites]
eustatic, I had the same question! went searching and found this paper from 2014 (different species I think but maybe similar?)
The principal question now remaining is how does the mother survive for so long? Low temperatures and inactivity help by keeping metabolic demand low. We saw no evidence of feeding during brooding. The only examination of a brooding female in the literature showed an empty gut. It is certainly possible that the mother feeds on the surrounding fauna or that in the course of protecting her eggs she feeds on would-be egg predators like Lithodid crabs. Resorption of unlaid eggs is known in other species, as is feeding on unfertilized or diseased eggs. Among deep-sea squids, species that brood their eggs rely on digestive gland lipid stores to meet their extended nutritional needs, but octopods are not known to store lipid as extensively. Regardless of how their nutritional needs are met, female G. boreopacifica spend a long time brooding.
posted by okonomichiyaki at 4:36 AM on August 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
The principal question now remaining is how does the mother survive for so long? Low temperatures and inactivity help by keeping metabolic demand low. We saw no evidence of feeding during brooding. The only examination of a brooding female in the literature showed an empty gut. It is certainly possible that the mother feeds on the surrounding fauna or that in the course of protecting her eggs she feeds on would-be egg predators like Lithodid crabs. Resorption of unlaid eggs is known in other species, as is feeding on unfertilized or diseased eggs. Among deep-sea squids, species that brood their eggs rely on digestive gland lipid stores to meet their extended nutritional needs, but octopods are not known to store lipid as extensively. Regardless of how their nutritional needs are met, female G. boreopacifica spend a long time brooding.
posted by okonomichiyaki at 4:36 AM on August 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
understandable. i certainly can get to brooding when i have an empty stomach.
posted by glonous keming at 5:02 AM on August 30, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by glonous keming at 5:02 AM on August 30, 2023 [3 favorites]
Narrator: Hot tubs.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 5:27 AM on August 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 5:27 AM on August 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
20,000 octopi sounds like we have found R'lyeh...
Horrifying to think about encountering that.
posted by Windopaene at 10:12 AM on August 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Horrifying to think about encountering that.
posted by Windopaene at 10:12 AM on August 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
That's a lot of octopi. We should throw some typewriters down there and see what develops.
posted by neuron at 10:31 AM on August 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by neuron at 10:31 AM on August 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
Two years is considered rapid development time for octopus eggs, what are moms eating during that time?
It’s fairly sad, but the answer is “nothing, and then they die.”
posted by notoriety public at 11:17 AM on August 30, 2023 [5 favorites]
It’s fairly sad, but the answer is “nothing, and then they die.”
posted by notoriety public at 11:17 AM on August 30, 2023 [5 favorites]
seems like. pour one out for the octo moms, shepharding the future with their lives
posted by eustatic at 5:39 PM on August 30, 2023
posted by eustatic at 5:39 PM on August 30, 2023
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posted by hippybear at 7:47 PM on August 29, 2023 [23 favorites]