Hydrothermal Vents

Paper Summary:

The paper explores hydrothermal vents and their contribution to the many biological beings that make these extreme conditions their home. The paper defines a hydrothermal vent as nothing more than a geyser that occurs on the ocean floor. The paper supports the thesis that by examining the vents' reactions to continuously changing conditions in their environment, we can gain clues as to changes that are occurring in the earth's core.

Outline:
What Are Hydrothermal Vents?
What Can Life in the Vents Tell Us?
Life in an Alien World

From the Paper:

"For the most part, the ocean floor is a sparsely inhabited area of the planet. However, hydrothermal vents are teeming with life. Hydrothermal vents are home to some extremely fascinating creatures to such as tube worms, giant clams, eyeless shrimp and spider crabs (ONR 2006). Cold seeps are other areas that are similar to hydrothermal vents, but the waters in them are closer to the temperature of the surrounding waters. Cold seeps support a similar array of life. Life around these geothermal fountains is dependent upon the chemicals in the surrounding water. The most common chemicals in the water include hydrogen sulfide, methane, iron, manganese, and silica (ONR 2006). This creates an extremely harsh environment to support life."

Sample of Sources Used:

• DeChaine, E. and Cavanaugh, C. 2006. Presence of post larval alvinocaridid shrimps over south-west Indian Ocean hydrothermal vents, with comparisons of the pelagic biomass at different vent sites Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 86 (1): 125-128.
• Govenar, B., Le Bris, N., and Gollner, S. 2005. Epifaunal community structure associated with Riftia pachyptila aggregations in chemically different hydrothermal vent habitats. Marine Ecology Progress Series,. 305: 67-77.
• Jeng, M., Ng, K., and Ng, P. 2004. Feeding behaviour: Hydrothermal vent crabs feast on sea 'snow' Nature. December 2004. 432 (7020): 969.
• Kelley, D., Karson, J., and Blackman, D. 2001. An off-axis hydrothermal vent field near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 30 degree N. Nature. July 12, 2001. 412 (6843): 145-149.
• Lutz, R., Shank, R. and Evans, R. 2001. The Life After Death in the Deep Sea. American Scientist. September-October, 2001. 89 (5): 422-431.

More papers on Hydrothermal Vents:

• Research Paper # 148086 : "Constraints on Food Availability in the Deep Sea"
• Research Paper # 115214 : "Red Sea Spreading"
• Research Paper # 49845 : "The Bathroom"

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