Sinkers?
Apparently for some time now, marine scientists have been trying to discover the food source that supports the large amount of life that lives around the ocean floor. Previous to date, the amount of sea life deep, deep down there baffled scientists because they could not account for enough food.
Now, they have discovered “sinkers.”
Scientists have discovered giant sinking mucus “houses” that double the amount of food on the sea floor.The mucus houses, or “sinkers,” are produced by tadpole-like animals not much bigger than your index finger.
The animals responsible for making sinkers are called giant larvaceans. They spin a mucus web, about a yard in diameter. They sit in the middle of the house and use it to filter food that is small enough for them to eat.
“Larger particles get stuck to the outside of these filters, and after some amount of time the filters get plugged and the animal moves out,” Sherlock said. “The house deflates and begins to sink, picking up more particles. It’s a fast-sinking carbon bomb.”
Wow … and eww all wraped up in one!
You can also check out this from EurekAlert ~ Mucus balloons solve an ocean mystery
Hat Tip: spacemonkey @ IMAO