Another Compelling Case for Preserving the Deep Ocean: Unveiling the Astonishing Findings of Life Below Hydrothermal Vents

Another Compelling Case for Preserving the Deep Ocean: Unveiling the Astonishing Findings of Life Below Hydrothermal Vents

96 Comments / Blog / By

A vulcanoctopus (a small benthic octopus endemic to hydrothermal vents) is seen near muscles and tubeworms near Tica Vent on the East Pacific Rise 2,500 meters deep. Experiments testing the theory of species dispersal through cracks in the Earth’s crust were performed in this area. ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute


Why you can trust us

Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Scientists have discovered a new ecosystem beneath hydrothermal vents inside cavities of a well-explored undersea volcano. The volcano is located on the East Pacific Rise off the coast of Central America.

An international team of scientists from Slovenia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States, led by Dr. Monika Bright, an ecologist at the University of Vienna, took a month-long expedition on board Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI)’s Falkor (too) research vessel, a press release from SOI said.

The research team used the ocean institute’s underwater remotely operated vehicle SuBastian to turn over chunks of volcanic crust to find cave systems housing snails, worms and chemosynthetic bacteria thriving in water that was 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

For the past 46 years, scientists have studied microbial life living in the subsurface, but had never searched for marine animals underneath the warm volcanic vents.

“The deeper you go, the warmer it goes, the less oxygen there is, the more toxic chemicals are in it,” Bright said, as The New York Times reported. “It’s very shallow, but it’s still below the Earth’s crust.”

The team found evidence that tubeworms — a foundational animal of hydrothermal vents — and other vent animals travel through vent fluid beneath the seafloor to colonize new habitats, the press release said. Not many tubeworm offspring were found in water above the vents, which led the researchers to think they might travel under the surface to create new populations.

“Our understanding of animal life at deep-sea hydrothermal vents has greatly expanded with this discovery,” Bright said in the press release. “Two dynamic vent habitats exist. Vent animals above and below the surface thrive together in unison, depending on vent fluid from below and oxygen in the seawater from above.”

Hydrothermal vents flow like underwater hot springs through cracks made by tectonic activity. Ecosystems follow new hydrothermal vents, colonizing them within a few years. Scientists don’t yet know how the larvae discover new vent fields.

The team used the underwater robot to confirm that animals move through vent fluids. They did this by gluing mesh boxes on top of cracks in the crust. After several days, the boxes and crust were removed to reveal animals living underneath in hydrothermal cavities.

“On land we have long known of animals living in cavities underground, and in the ocean of animals living in sand and mud, but for the first time, scientists have looked for animals beneath hydrothermal vents,” said Dr. Jyotika Virmani, executive director of SOI, in the press release. “This truly remarkable discovery of a new ecosystem, hidden beneath another ecosystem, provides fresh evidence that life exists in incredible places. Schmidt Ocean Institute is proud to have provided a platform for Dr. Bright and her team to gather new insights into these systems that may be vulnerable to deep-sea mining.”

Los Angeles-based artist Max Hooper Schneider accompanied the research team on the expedition. Hooper Schneider made sculptures that were filmed on the vent systems, and will incorporate the artistic research into future exhibits.

“Lightless ecosystems of the deep ocean are imperative to understanding the extremophilic dawns of planet earth,” Hooper Schneider said in the press release.

Wendy Schmidt, president and co-founder of SOI, said the expedition’s discoveries show how important it is to explore the ocean’s depths to understand what life exists there.

“The discovery of new creatures, landscapes, and now, an entirely new ecosystem underscores just how much we have yet to discover about our Ocean — and how important it is to protect what we don’t yet know or understand,” Schmidt said in the press release.

Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

Cristen is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. She holds a JD and an Ocean & Coastal Law Certificate from University of Oregon School of Law and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London. She is the author of the short story collection The Smallest of Entryways, as well as the travel biography, Ernest’s Way: An International Journey Through Hemingway’s Life.

96 thoughts on “Another Compelling Case for Preserving the Deep Ocean: Unveiling the Astonishing Findings of Life Below Hydrothermal Vents”

  85. Zmuxwaw

    You can keep yourself and your ancestors close being wary when buying medicine online. Some pharmaceutics websites function legally and offer convenience, reclusion, cost savings and safeguards as a replacement for purchasing medicines. http://playbigbassrm.com/fr/

    Reply
  88. MichaelMok

    Оформите займ https://zaimy-76.ru онлайн без визита в офис — быстро, безопасно и официально. Деньги на карту за несколько минут, круглосуточная обработка заявок, честные условия и поддержка клиентов 24/7.

    Reply
  90. Louise Piotrowski

    Aussies who want to enjoy a similar experience to what’s obtainable at any given world-class physical gambling establishment right in the comfort of their homes can visit the MateSlots Casino Australia live section to explore the options available. Here, you’ll be able to play table titles like Roulette, Baccarat, Poker, Blackjack and several others with real humans as croupiers. Also, we offer live rendition of popular game shows that feature professional presenters. Via different camera angles and high quality video stream from the studios of the host or a real casino, you’ll be able to visualise as the dealers use real equipment to moderate each game. With the MateSlots Online on-screen tools, you can communicate your decision to the dealer and also interact with other players. Some of the popular options in this dedicated section are: Power Up Roulette VIP Blackjack Mega Wheel Millionaire Video Poker Live Super 8 Baccarat MateSlots Casino Table Games with RNG If you’re not a fan of pokies, but you’re yet to master the art of live casino gambling, we’ve provided a middle ground for you. When you play our table titles, you’ll be able to combine the RNG accustomed to slots with the technicalities of live table games. In this fast-paced environment, you might not have the time to play through the live dealer versions. Therefore, you can try your hands on the RNG options available at MateSlots. They offer you the opportunity to instantly win real money without going through the whole process of the game. Furthermore, because these titles operate via a random number generator, they’re also available to play for free in demo mode. Therefore, newbies can use them to practise and understand the rudiments and develop a viable strategy before deciding to play against professional dealers and opponents in our live segment. Tournaments and VIP Program Players from Australia can be assured of regular bonuses and promotions as soon as they sign up an account with us. However, our reward program doesn’t end with just the welcome and reload bonuses, we provide regular in-house and network tournaments, as well as a comprehensive VIP program for Aussies to participate and win extraordinary rewards. When you visit the Mate Slots Online Casino tournament page, you’ll find ongoing competitions to take part in. With tournaments, the modes of operation are similar. You need to opt in by placing real money bets on any of the participating titles. Depending on the rules of engagement, you’ll be rewarded with tournament points and rank on a leaderboard. When the competition ends, if you rank amongst the prize positions, your reward will be credited accordingly. Additionally, we’ve a 25-tier MateSlots AU VIP program for everyone to enjoy. As you accumulate complimentary points, you progress through the program and stand the chance to claim cash rewards and free spins, VIP benefits like a personal manager, increased withdrawal limit and other exciting prizes. FAQ What games does MateSlots Online Casino offer to Australian players? We provides over 2,000 slot machines, table games and live dealer options. The casino features games from software providers such as NetEnt, Microgaming and Evolution Gaming. Popular pokie titles include Book of Dead, Starburst and Wolf Gold. Table game selection includes blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker variations. What payment methods are available? Australian players can deposit and withdraw using bank transfers, credit cards (Visa and Mastercard), and e-wallets including Neosurfand MiFinity. The casino also accepts cryptocurrency payments through Bitcoin and Ethereum. Minimum deposit amount is AUD 30. Withdrawal processing takes 24-48 hours for credit cards and 3-5 business days for bank transfers. Does the casino have a license and security measures? Mate Slots Casino Online operates under a gaming license. The platform uses 128-bit SSL encryption to protect financial transactions and personal data. All games use Random Number Generator (RNG) technology that undergoes regular testing by independent auditors. The casino implements account verification procedures as part of its security protocol.

    Reply
  91. Jeffreycoums

    Команда специалистов по сопровождению ВЭД всегда готова помочь и подсказать. Благодаря их опыту все операции по импорту проходят быстро и без ошибок. Очень довольны сотрудничеством https://vsoprovozhdenie.ru/

    Reply
  93. kra44-cc

    Официальный сайт Kraken kra44 at безопасная платформа для анонимных операций в darknet. Полный доступ к рынку через актуальные зеркала и onion ссылки.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *