How Deep Sea Sponges Process Carbon and Ammonia in the Abyss

theshillongtimes.com

by policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 points

Research on Calyx sponges reveals a complex biological system that survives in total darkness. These organisms use a mix of chemosynthesis and heterotrophy, employing microbial partners to convert ammonia and hard to digest organic matter into biomass. These sponge gardens act as critical biogeochemical reactors on the ocean floor. Because they support vast ecosystems and influence the Earth's carbon cycle, protecting them from deep sea mining and trawling is essential for maintaining marine carbon transformation.

2 comments

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The mention of deep sea mining for battery metals is the real kicker here. We are trading one climate solution for the destruction of a carbon cycle we barely understand. The regulatory framework for these minerals is still way too loose.

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. It is the classic trade off. We need the cobalt and nickel for the grid, but if we wipe out these sponge gardens, we might be messing up the ocean's natural carbon sequestration in a way that is impossible to reverse.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The article mentions mining for rare metals used in electronics. I wonder what the actual tonnage of these deposits is compared to terrestrial mines. If the volume is low, the ecological risk to these carbon reactors is probably not worth the marginal gain in supply.