Hawaiian Islands Have the Highest Rates of Unique Species in the World

It turns out that Hawaii may have more unique species than once thought. Scientists have found that Hawaii's Northwestern islands have the highest rates of unique species, including possible new species.

In this latest study, researchers aboard a NOAA ship explored deep coral reefs. Using advanced diving technology to survey reefs at depths up to 300 feet, much deeper than conventional scuba gear allows, scientists were able to observe rarely seen ecosystems. Fish surveys at these depths around the northernmost atolls revealed an extremely high abundance of species found only in the Hawaiian Islands.

"On some of the deep reefs we surveyed, 100 percent of the fishes we recorded were endemic, meaning that they are all unique to the Hawaiian archipelago," said Randall Kosaki, one of the researchers, in a news release. "This is the highest level of endemism recorded from any marine ecosystem on earth."

The team was actually the first to dive on several open-ocean seamounts in the monument, which were first mapped using high resolution multibeam sonar in 2014 and 2015. These undersea mountains rise from the floor of the ocean in 14,000 feet of water and summit within 200 to 300 feet of the surface.

"Discoveries of rare and unique species of marine life remind us why Papahanaumokuakea is so special and why we need to continue exploring managing and protecting it," said Athline Clark, one of the researchers. "We are delighted to have so many partners who help us to achieve these significant research findings."

The findings reveal a bit more about this area and show that this region should be targeted for protection now and in the future.

For more information, visit NOAA's website.

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