In March 1942, during the early days of World War II, a German submarine attacked the Dixie Arrow, an oil tanker carrying crude oil from Texas to New Jersey. The tanker sank to the ocean floor, becoming one of many WWII vessels where marine life has adapted to create new habitats.
Shipwrecks have a significant impact on the environment, with over three million known wrecks at the bottom of waterways worldwide. Scientific research into these wrecks began in the 1920s with British scientist Lilian Lyle, leading to the study of sunken ships in various disciplines such as archaeology, ecology, and oceanography.
According to marine biologist Avery Paxton, shipwrecks can be “ecological treasures” that attract a wide variety of marine life. They serve as hotspots for biodiversity, with organisms ranging from tiny creatures to large ocean animals making these wrecks their home.
When a ship sinks, it doesn’t create a new habitat but becomes part of the existing ecosystem. Factors like location, water depth, and ship material determine how quickly a wreck becomes a habitat. Some ships, like the Dixie Arrow, remain intact and upright on the ocean floor, attracting plant life, corals, and fish.
Other wrecks, like the Manuela that sank off the coast of North Carolina, break into pieces, creating debris fields that become habitats for marine life. Despite the ecological benefits of shipwrecks, they can also pose risks to the environment. Sunken vessels can destroy habitats, leak pollutants like oil into the marine environment, and introduce invasive species that disrupt the ecosystem.
Invasive species, in particular, can thrive in sunken ships and alter habitats, affecting native marine life. Efforts are being made by scientists and government agencies to prevent the spread of invasive species by removing sunken ships and developing early detection techniques.
While shipwrecks offer unique opportunities for marine life to thrive, they also present challenges that must be addressed to protect the marine environment. By studying the adaptation of sea creatures in sunken WWII vessels, researchers gain valuable insights into the complex interaction between marine life and underwater habitats.
