Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has completed a pioneering joint exploration mission in the Arabian Gulf, known for its warm waters. This mission was conducted under a multilateral MoU signed with M42 Healthcare, Bayanat, and OceanX to study the effects of climate change on UAE waters.
The team conducted joint research into environmental DNA (eDNA), analyzed underwater microbial communities, assessed nutrient concentrations, studied populations of large marine species, and surveyed the geology and bathymetry of the seafloor around the United Arab Emirates during a 20-day expedition aboard the OceanXplorer, the most advanced research vessel ever built.
Ten submersible excursions were made during the course of the expedition, the first of which was carried out by two female Emirati scientists from EAD. The study trip comprised nineteen remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives, the collection of nine hundred and twenty-six samples of marine water, biodiversity, and sediment, and the support of nine distinct studies from the Abu Dhabi Environment Research Network (EAD), an innovative research network established by the Agency to further environmental research in Abu Dhabi.
Four Emirati scientists who were conducting groundbreaking study on deep-sea biology, geology, and oceanography in the Arabian and Gulf of Oman were among the scientists participated in this project. Scientists from five ADERN institutions were also on board.
Thirteen DNA samples were taken from seven distinct species of dolphins and whales. Additionally, the whole genomes of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, and Indo-Pacific finless porpoise were sequenced.
Furthermore, an aerial survey spanning 773 nautical miles was carried out, during which time 12 observations of several megafauna species, such as bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, and manta rays, were documented. At a depth of roughly 850 meters, the first sighting of an endangered bramble shark in the UAE was recorded.
Active fault structures were discovered through the collection of 86 deep-water coral specimens and 1,257 square kilometers of high-resolution, multibeam bathymetry imaging. Researchers will be able to better understand and identify certain sorts of fissures and moving parts in the Earth’s crust by mapping the sea floor. This knowledge is vital since it helps predict potential earthquake locations and the movement of subsurface fluids in the area.
He added, “Our partnership with OceanX on this expedition covers more than just exploration – it’s a commitment to the future. By providing invaluable data and insights into our changing seas, this pioneering work lays the foundation for conservation and policymaking, ensuring the health of marine ecosystems for generations to come.”