Blue Hole Biodiversity
The following biodiversity can be observed in the Blue Holes:
Fossil
Several kinds of fossils have been found that provide information about the kinds of life that once inhabited blue holes.
- There have been observations of other living forms, such as marine life and marine fossils; fossils of tortoises and crocodiles, have been discovered in blue holes.
- Also, major bacterial colony forms have been discovered in blue holes.
- They must survive on sulfur compounds like hydrogen sulfide, which are poisonous to most other species because of the environment within a blue hole.
Microbes
Microbe diversity is high in blue holes:
- Within the blue holes, bacteria establish biogeochemical pathways that produce a distinct and varied habitat.
- For cyanobacteria to breathe in the surface layer, there must be minimal concentrations of oxygen, DOC, POC, and chlorophyll.
- Many microbial branches and subbranches form specialized niches as depth increases according to the chemistry and nutrient availability of that depth.
Blue Hole
Blue Hole: A blue hole is an underwater, large marine sinkhole or cavern. They can cover areas bigger than cities and are hundreds of meters long. Carbonate bedrock, such as coral reefs or limestone, makes up blue holes. They may contain tidally-influenced fresh, marine, or mixed water. By releasing nutrients, some of the holes help the biodiversity in their natural surroundings. Off the coast of Mexico, a blue hole measuring 900 feet deep was found in 2021. In February 2023, a study on the blue hole was first published in the Frontiers in Marine Science publication.
In this article, we will read about Blue Hole, interesting facts about them, the formation of blue hole, their location, biodiversity, and the great blue hole of Belize.
Table of Content
- What is Blue Hole?
- Facts about Blue Hole
- Formation of Blue Hole
- Blue Hole Location
- Blue Hole Biodiversity
- Sedimentation in Blue Holes
- Fossil Preservation in Blue Holes
- Great Blue Hole – Belize