Home >> Science & Nature >> Nature

What Kind of Creatures Live Around Hydrothermal Vents?

Hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor, also called "black smokers," are caused by fissures in the Earth's crust and are most common near fault lines, hotspots and geologically active areas. These vents spew superheated, mineral rich water. Unlike nearly anywhere else on Earth, where solar energy is the basis for life, ecosystems around these vents are sustained by chemosynthesis (as opposed to photosynthesis) performed by single-celled archaea organisms. The area around deep-sea vents have a richness of life 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than that of the rest of the ocean floor.

Archaea and bacteria
- Archaea, which were once considered to be a type of bacteria but are now classified in their own domain, are some of the most ancient life forms on the planet. They can live in very extreme conditions that are deadly other lifeforms.Together with chemo-autotrophic bacteria (bacteria that make their own food from chemical sources), archaea around the vents use chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide to produce biomass. These single-celled organisms form a thick layer surrounding the vent and provide food for a variety of organisms.
Tube worms
- Giant tube worms, a type of marine invertebrate, are one of the most prolific and important organisms in vent ecosystems. They have no mouths or even digestive systems, and are completely dependent on symbiotic bacteria, which live inside them to oxidize sulfur compounds and produce organic compounds. They grow quickly, often reaching lengths of 5 feet within two years, and specimens as large is 8 feet have been discovered. Tube worms provide food for shrimp, crabs and other organisms.
Primary consumers
- Aside from tube worms, several organisms feed on the archaea and bacteria directly. These are mostly copepods and amphipods - tiny crustaceans that are usually less than half an inch long and often smaller than a tenth of an inch. These organisms provide food for larger predators. Large clams can also use the bacteria as a food source.
Larger organisms
- A wide range of larger creatures populate the area around deep sea vents. More than 500 different species have been observed near these vents, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Hydrothermal vents are so fertile that the surrounding area is sometimes home to millions of shrimp and other invertebrates. Most of these stay far enough away from the vent so as to not be boiled alive, but some creatures, such as the Pompeii Worm, survive temperatures as high as 80°C or 176°F. They keep their heads in cooler water, around 22°C or 72°F, while their anterior ends are exposed to extreme heat. Other unique animals include the scaly-food gastropod, a type of snail whose shell is made extra hard through the incorporation of iron compounds.

Nature