In 2018, researchers from NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Nautilus Live observed thousands of octopus nesting on the deep seafloor off the Central California coast. The discovery of the 'Octopus Garden' captured the curiosity of millions of people around the world, including Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute scientists. For three years, MBARI and collaborators used high-tech tools to monitor the Octopus Garden and learn exactly why this site is so attractive for deep-sea octopus.
An aggregation of female pearl octopus nesting at the Octopus Garden, located near Davidson Seamount off the Central California at a depth of approximately 3,200 meters. Researchers used MBARI's advanced technology to confirm pearl octopus gather at the Octopus Garden to mate and nest. Warm water from hydrothermal springs accelerates development of octopus embryos, giving young octopus a better chance of survival.
Over the course of 14 dives with MBARI's remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts, the research team learned why such large numbers of pearl octopus are attracted to this location. The presence of adult male and female octopus, developing eggs, and octopus hatchlings indicated that the site is used exclusively for reproduction. The team did not observe any intermediate-sized individuals or any evidence of feeding. Pearl octopus gather at this site solely to mate and nest.
Past experiments have measured egg incubation time for a number of octopus species in habitats and locations around the world. Comparing those egg incubation times clearly demonstrates how temperature affects the rate of embryo development—the colder the water, the slower the embryos grow. "The deep sea is one of the most challenging environments on Earth, yet animals have evolved clever ways to cope with frigid temperatures, perpetual darkness, and extreme pressure. Very long brooding periods increase the likelihood that a mother's eggs won't survive. By nesting at hydrothermal springs, octopus moms give their offspring a leg up," said Barry.
In October 2018, a team of researchers from NOAA, the Ocean Exploration Trust, and collaborators made an expedition to Davidson Seamount aboard the E/V Nautilus. At the suggestion of MBARI geologists and NOAA researchers, the Nautilus Live team decided to expand their exploration from the top of the seamount to its surrounding foothills. The researchers discovered thousands of octopus aggregated around a rocky ridge adjacent to the towering seamount.
MBARI's ROV Doc Ricketts recorded high-definition and 4K video of the brooding pearl octopus and their neighbors. MBARI's skilled submersible pilots maneuvered the ROV close to brooding pearl octopus to deploy instruments to measure the environmental conditions within their nests, including temperature and oxygen levels, and to film mothers and their eggs up close in ultra-high definition resolution.
Both male and female pearl octopus migrate to the Octopus Garden. Females search for a warm nesting spot to deposit a clutch of approximately 60 elongate, sausage-shaped eggs. When brooding, mothers cover their eggs with their body and protect them from predators that creep too close. She lives off food reserves from her own tissues while tending to her developing eggs.
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