Hydrothermal Vents
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Deep Ocean & Hydrothermal Vents Peter Brandt & Annie Nowak * What is a Hydrothermal Vent? Hydrothermal Vents: Geysers found on the seafloor which spew super-hot, mineral-rich water which supports a diverse community of organisms New Science, discovered in 1977 Iron-Sulfur World Theory: all life may have started around Hydrothermal Vents * Abiotic Factors Black Smokers Temperatures of up to 464?C No sunlight: Chemosynthesis Acidic waters, 2.8 pH Nutrient rich waters * Key Organisms of Hydrothermal Vents Giant tube worms, Huge clams, Mussels, Crabs, Anemones, Shrimps, Fish, Octopi, Snails, Limpets High heat tolerance & ability to live without sunlight Microbes ? Bacteria and Archaea, and Macrofauna Keystone species: Giant Tube Worm * Food Web * Biodiversity