Thanks to a broad collection of water sample, the Tara Oceans expedition allows a better understanding of the environmental conditions affecting the sampled organisms at a global scale.

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These threats include insects, disease organisms, herbicides and environmental stresses.

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The dispersant that has been used in the largest amounts on this spill, Corexit 9500, is among the most toxic to certain organisms of all those approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in oil spills, according to EPA tests.

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But these are rare and specialized niche organisms, what biologists call "extremophiles, " because they love extreme environmental conditions.

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"You have to remember that the best biochemists on the planet are probably organisms, " said Paul Mankiewicz, of the Gaia Institute, which works on environmental issues.

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