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New reef discovered at mouth of Amazon River

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New reef discovered at mouth of Amazon River
WATCH: Video provided by Science Advances shows scientists and marine biologists “sampling the plume, subplume, and reefs off the Amazon river mouth during the NHo Cruzeiro do Sul cruise.” – Apr 24, 2016

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.”

READ MORE: 5 mind-blowing things you didn’t know about our planet

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.

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

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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.”

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.

READ MORE: ‘We’re at risk of losing a lot of species’: The race to save Canada’s wildlife

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.

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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.

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