Figure 1.

The swimming isopod Bathyopsurus nybelini was consistently observed carrying Sargassum at abyssal and hadal depths. (a) A map showing observations of B. nybelini during this study and historical records. Yellow circles, this study; orange diamonds, 1948 Swedish Deep-Sea Expedition collections [26,27]; white squares, lander observations [15]. (b,c) Isopod and macroalgae observations along the seafloor during Alvin dive AL5090 as a function of depth, time, and relative distance travelled. Data begin shortly before the sub arrives on the seafloor. The legend is the same for both panels. (d) Representative image of B. nybelini carrying Sargassum. PRT, Puerto Rico Trench.