FAIRBANKS, Alaska, November 2, 2007 (ENS) - This summer, during the second phase of a two-year scientific survey of the waters around the Aleutian Islands, scientists discovered what appear to be three new marine organisms. This year's dives surveyed the western region of the Aleutians, from Attu to Amlia Island, while last year's assessment covered the eastern region.

During the dives, two potentially new species of sea anemones have been discovered. Stephen Jewett, a professor of marine biology and dive leader on the expedition, says that these are "walking" or "swimming" anemones because they move across the seafloor as they feed.

This anemone is new to science. (Photo by Stephen Jewett)

While most sea anemones are anchored to the seabed, a "swimming" anemone can detach and drift with ocean currents. The size of these anemones ranges from the size of a softball to the size of a basketball.

Another new species is a kelp or brown algae that scientists have named the "Golden V Kelp" or Aureophycus aleuticus. According to Mandy Lindeberg, an algae expert with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service and a member of the expedition, the kelp may represent a new genus, or even family, of the seaweed.

Growing up to 10 feet long, the kelp was found near thermal vents in the region of the Islands of the Four Mountains.

"Since the underwater world of the Aleutian Islands has been studied so little, new species are being discovered, even today," said Jewett. Even more new species may be revealed as samples collected during the dives are analyzed.

The new organisms were found while surveying more than 1,000 miles of rarely explored coastline, from Attu to the Tigalda Islands.

Logging more than 300 hours underwater, the divers collected hundreds of water, biological and chemical samples during 440 dives.

A new species of kelp, called the Golden V Kelp because of its golden v-shaped blades. (Photo by Max Hoberg)

With underwater cameras and video cameras, the divers took hundreds of photographs and dozens of short movies of the creatures that inhabit the coast of the Aleutians.

According to Jewett, the scientists are quite sure that the kelp is a new species, but more work is being done to confirm that the sea anemone species are completely new to science.

During both years, the chief scientist on the project was Douglas Dasher, a water quality expert from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. The scientific team operated from the R/V NORSEMAN, a 108-foot vessel originally designed for crab fishing in the Bering Sea.

The dives were part of a broad health assessment of the Aleutian Islands and were sponsored by the Alaska Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program. The program is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Samples from the dives are being used to catalog biodiversity in the region, assess water quality and potential contaminants.

Jewett says this is the first time the remote nearshore region of the Aleutian Chain has undergone an in-depth marine assessment.

This walking anemone is also a newly discovered species. (Photo courtesy Heloise Chenelot)

The rugged and remote islands of the Aleutians are not immune to the long reach of human activity, say scientists leading the expedition.

"Pollutants traveling through air and water pathways from temperate latitudes have been showing up in the area," says Jewett. "Debris and spills from World War II in the Aleutians have left their mark behind in unexploded ordinance and local sources of pollutants."

Samples are being tested for nutrient and oxygen levels in the water, acidity, temperature and radioactive chemicals left over from the underwater nuclear tests conducted at Amchitka Island between 1965 and 1971.

"Climate change, with changes in water temperature, wind patterns and currents may impact the region's biological life," said Jewett. "It is important that we collect this information before any major changes occur."

Diving to a maximum depth of 60 feet along 1000 miles of mostly uninhabited coastline is an extraordinary experience, says Jewett.

"This is my fourth diving mission in the Aleutians," said Jewett. "In my view, it's the best cold-water diving experience in the Northern Hemisphere, because of the outstanding visibility, coupled with the diverse and colorful marine life."

Selected images from the dives are online at: www.sfos.uaf.edu/emap.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.