The Mysterious Life Cycle of Sargasso Sea Eels

the European snakes They play a starring role in one of the most mysterious and longest migrations in the animal kingdom. This route, which adds up to a total of 16000 km Back and forth, it has been a subject of fascination and study by scientists over the years.

Adult sea snakes are known to travel from European rivers to the Pacific Ocean. Sargasso Sea to hatch and die, while their young, known as The geniesThey make the return journey to Europe after they are born. This sea, located in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of Bermuda, is unique in being the only one that It has no coast. It is bordered by many sea currents.

Despite the long absence of accurate data, a European team, with significant Spanish participation, has been able to determine for the first time Routes, schedules, predators and speed of snake migration By using transmitters. Javier Lobon ServiaThis will help improve the management of this species, which is currently highly threatened, the CSIC researcher explained. The results of this study were published in the journal “Scientific progress”.

he Danish oceanographer Johannes Schmidt It was he who discovered where the eels spawned. On expeditions between 1904 and 1915, Schmidt noticed that the eel specimens were smaller the closer they got to the Sargasso Sea, confirming that they were breeding there. In addition, Le Bon Servia He adds that thanks to this methodology, it was discovered that the paths of two distinct eels in the same place can be similar but not identical, with large differences in speed between 3 and 47 km per day.

Recent studies have shown that eels spawn between December and February, a period when they are vulnerable to predators such as sperm whales, sharks and tuna. This tracking method has revealed that each eel can take up to a year to complete its journey to the Sargasso Sea, rather than four months as previously thought. “Thanks to the signals from the transmitters we discovered that the snakes follow a routine when moving.”Le Bon Servia points out that it moves during the day in the depths of the ocean, and at night in shallow waters.

The Sargasso Sea, also known as the Counter-vortex due to clockwise motionoccupying two-thirds of the North Atlantic Ocean. This sea, which is characterized by an abundance of floating algae, creates a unique ecosystem that has intrigued biologists for years. The place contains nearly a million tons of biomass, and despite its lack of a coastline, it includes Bermuda Islands In its natural area. The formation of this sea dates back to the division of ancient Pangaea and is bordered by the Gulf and Canary Currents and the South Equatorial Currents.

Rosette snakes Highlights and emphasizes the importance of this ecosystem as a stopping point for many species on their migration path. The exact route of the snakes is unknown.Recent studies suggest that adult specimens travel through European rivers to the warm waters of the Sargasso Sea. Their offspring repeat the journey in the opposite direction until they complete the cycle as adults.

The mentioned researches were used. There are two types of sensors: one that is inserted into the dorsal muscles and sends signals after six months, and a cheaper one that is inserted into the peritoneal cavity and is activated after the animal dies. Both devices record water temperature and geographic coordinates every 15 minutes, Le Bon-Servia noted. To conduct these studies, 707 adult snakes were equipped with transmitters, allowing the movement of 206 specimens to be tracked.

Aristotle had already expressed his astonishment at this. Snakes In his book “History of Animals”, he stated that they were neither the result of mating nor eggs. This confusion was due to the complex migration cycle that could not be properly explained until the beginning of the twentieth century. Schmidt Other scientists have helped solve some of these mysteries with scientific evidence.

However, surprisingly, although countless sea snakes have gone to lay their eggs in the Sargasso Sea and died there millions of years ago, their remains have never been found in the deep sea in that region. “The deep deterioration and decay must be enormous.”Refers to Le Bon Servia.

The recent study has clarified many of the details of this complex migration and is essential for improving migration strategies. Preservation and management There is still much to discover, but the current data provide a solid foundation for future research. “Let’s see what we can do with it.”“It’s a very good idea,” says Le Bon Servia, referring to the thousands of hours of data that have been acquired.