A field of underwater seaweed species Posidonia australis located in Shark Bay in the Indian Ocean belongs to one specimen, according to genetic tests by Australian scientists.
The organism covers an area of 180 square kilometers after spending the last 4500 years cloning itself.
The researchers confirmed that the swamp was the same organism taking samples and comparing DNA from shoots across the fieldwritten by the study’s co-author, marine biologist Jane Edgeloe of the University of Western Australia.
Many plants and some animals can reproduce without sex. Cloning has disadvantages, such as greater susceptibility to disease, but the The process can create “dependent monsters” by opening the door to rapid growthwritten by researchers.
Scientists say the swamp, which covers an area larger than Washington state, is the largest known clone on Earth.
Despite its enormous size, the swamp is weak. Ten years ago, algae covered approximately 20 square kilometers, but storms and rising ocean temperatures associated with climate change have recently killed nearly 10% of this ancient swamp.
The findings were published Wednesday in the scientific journal Royal Society Procedures B.
Source: Radio-Canada
