Life in Ocean ‘Blue Holes’ Studied

Life in Ocean ‘Blue Holes’ Studied

Life found in underwater caves in the Bahamas could give clues to what types of marine life might be found on distant planets and moons, researchers say. Discoveries made in so-called blue holes by Texas A&M University at Galveston researchers include specialized forms of bacteria life at different depths, suggesting that microbial life in such caves is continually adapting to changes in available light, water chemistry and food sources.

There are tens of thousands of underwater caves scattered around the world, but less than 5 percent have ever been explored and scientifically investigated.