Despite the worrisome disappearance of species, occasionally there is good news for biodiversity. New species are still being discovered, albeit at a slow rate, especially in more remote habitats. Divers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks have found three possibly new species in the waters of the western Aleutian Islands.

The Aleutian Islands consist of an archipelago with more than 300 small islands, extending from the Alaska Peninsula toward Russia. Most of the islands are part of the state of Alaska. The chain was formed by seismic activity and includes a large number of still-active volcanoes. Despite their distance from more populous areas, these islands are affected by marine and airborne pollutants. Dating back to World War II, the waters have hosted local sources of pollution, such as the underwater nuclear tests conducted at Amchitka Island as well as unexploded ordinance.

One newcomer is a brown algae species named the ‘Golden V kelp’, which was found in an area of hydrothermal vents and can grow up to ten feet long. Two others are sea anemones that - unlike many sessile species that are anchored in place - move across the bottom to feed. These ‘swimming’ anemones are able to detach their bases and move with prevailing currents.

The dives were part of a two-year study to survey the coastal ocean around the Aleutians. The research is intended to document the marine environment and provide a baseline in case of oceanic changes. Climate change has the potential to increase water temperature and change circulation patterns. Already, polar areas, which are particularly sensitive to warming effects, have seen warming waters and melting of thick sea ice.

The survey logged hundreds of hours underwater, including the collection of water samples, photographs, and video. There is every chance that these three prospective new species may be joined by other little-seen organisms, as the documentation is analyzed. Additionally, the health of the Aleutian waters will be better described - as water quality and contaminants were a major component of the research.