We all know that trees like any other living organism would decay and decompose into the soil. But Surprisingly scientists have found a sunken underwater forest in US coastal waters which is full of life.
Exciting isn’t it??
It’s also found that this forest holds the key to sustaining humanity.
The tree trunks retrieved from the seabed were found to be covered with layers of sediments and peat, lack of oxygen in these layers ensured that the wood did not decompose and kept them preserved.
Scientists believe that they will be able to find new species of animals and microorganisms. They also believe that they will be able to identify bacteria that can be used in drug treatments.
One such species that may help in drug treatment is, ‘shipworms‘, a type saltwater invertebrate that digests the wood. The scientists say that the microbes present in the shipworm’s gut and gills may help to develop new drugs.
As years pass by, the world is becoming a curious place to live in… Who knows what mysteries are yet to be unleashed!!!
-Sraddha Suresh
Read our article on “Seed bank- Preserving generic diversity”
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