Story perspectives

New Research Reveals Abundance of Deep-Sea Alicella gigantea

12/27/2025

Summary

Story summary

Researchers led by Dr. Paige J. Maroni report Alicella gigantea is more common than thought, inhabiting nearly 59% of the ocean floor.
Analysis of 195 records shows A. gigantea in deep-sea zones across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
Genetic analysis shows low differentiation among populations, indicating a single species with extensive dispersal.
Continued exploration is needed to understand its ecology and inform conservation as deep-sea mining grows.

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Story summary

Researchers led by Dr. Paige J. Maroni report Alicella gigantea is more common than thought, inhabiting nearly 59% of the ocean floor.
Analysis of 195 records shows A. gigantea in deep-sea zones across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
Genetic analysis shows low differentiation among populations, indicating a single species with extensive dispersal.
Continued exploration is needed to understand its ecology and inform conservation as deep-sea mining grows.