New reef discovered at mouth of Amazon River

Scientists have discovered a reef the size of Delaware at mouth of the Amazon River in South America, according to a new study published in Science Advances.

But this reef isn’t anything like a common coral reef.

“This is something totally new and different from what is present in any other part of the globe,” paper author Fabiano Thompson told the Smithsonian. “But until now, it’s been almost completely overlooked.”

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The river discharges fresh water into the ocean at a very high rate, which means the floor is muddy and not a lot of light can get through.

It’s drastically different from the sunny skies and clear salt water present at the iconic Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.

As such, it isn’t filled with colourful coral; instead, because of its location, most organisms are sponges and algae. (Some coral was discovered as well.)

Thompson and his team started searching the area in 2012; previously only 0.001 per cent of the area had been sampled. The new survey still only scratches the surface: only 10 per cent of the entire system was sampled.

“We have only rough map, not a very fine one,” Thompson said. “We still have another [3,240-square miles] to describe.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We have only rough map, not a very fine one," Thompson said. "We still have another [3,240-square miles] to describe."

But what does the discovery of an Amazonian reef mean for the future?

Well, the cataloguing the 73 fish species, 35 algae, coral and more organisms found under the muddy water will help conservationists figure out how reefs can survive in suboptimal conditions, which “are accelerating worldwide due to global changes,” the study says.

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The researchers also are in the midst of identifying 29 specimen that could prove to be new species, and are analysing new microbes that base their metabolism on minerals and a chemicals, instead of light, the magazine reports.

That could mean a new, unique ecosystem.

And finally, the discovery could prompt conservation and protection efforts, because the Smithsonian says major oil and gas companies have been considering the area for new drilling sites.