Deep Sea Communities
Hydrothermal Vents
These communities are a more recent discovery and are still being researched. Hydrothermal vents are fissures in the ocean floor that .spews out super-heated, mineral rich water. This water can be as hot as 700F! The only reason it is not boiling is because of the extreme pressure due to the depth. These look like chimneys with plumes of black or white "smoke". This is one of the harshest environments in the world yet it is teeming with organisms.
The organisms that live in this environment depend on a process known as chemosynthesis. The bacteria at the vent use chemicals as food. This provides a "base" for the food chain as smaller animals feed on the bacteria and larger animals eat the smaller animals. One of the most interesting organisms found here is the giant tube worm. These animals can grow as tall as 8 feet. Bacteria live inside them and make food for the worms. Living amongst the worms are crabs, worms and other small invertebrates.
These communities are a more recent discovery and are still being researched. Hydrothermal vents are fissures in the ocean floor that .spews out super-heated, mineral rich water. This water can be as hot as 700F! The only reason it is not boiling is because of the extreme pressure due to the depth. These look like chimneys with plumes of black or white "smoke". This is one of the harshest environments in the world yet it is teeming with organisms.
The organisms that live in this environment depend on a process known as chemosynthesis. The bacteria at the vent use chemicals as food. This provides a "base" for the food chain as smaller animals feed on the bacteria and larger animals eat the smaller animals. One of the most interesting organisms found here is the giant tube worm. These animals can grow as tall as 8 feet. Bacteria live inside them and make food for the worms. Living amongst the worms are crabs, worms and other small invertebrates.
Cold Seeps
Cold seeps are areas where fluids are seeping from the seafloor much like undersea springs. Typically these are referred to as methane-seeps or sulfide-seeps because these "springs" are full of those chemicals. While they aren't any colder than the surrounding water, these communities are called cold seeps to distinguish them from hydrothermal vents. Just like hydrothermal vent communities bacteria at a cold seep uses chemosynthesis to produce its food. Some animals at the cold seep have formed symbiotic relationships with the bacteria in order to survive. Clams have bacteria that live in their gills, as the clam takes in hydrogen sulfide form the water the bacteria "digest" it and release sugars that become food for the clam.
Cold seeps are areas where fluids are seeping from the seafloor much like undersea springs. Typically these are referred to as methane-seeps or sulfide-seeps because these "springs" are full of those chemicals. While they aren't any colder than the surrounding water, these communities are called cold seeps to distinguish them from hydrothermal vents. Just like hydrothermal vent communities bacteria at a cold seep uses chemosynthesis to produce its food. Some animals at the cold seep have formed symbiotic relationships with the bacteria in order to survive. Clams have bacteria that live in their gills, as the clam takes in hydrogen sulfide form the water the bacteria "digest" it and release sugars that become food for the clam.
Whale Falls
Whale falls are created when a whale dies and sinks to the ocean floor. This carcass brings an immense amount of food to an area where food is scarce. There are 3 stages to a whale fall community.
1. the Mobile Scavenger Phase: Within days of the carcass landing, scavengers have arrived and are feasting on the decaying flesh. This phase lasts a few months depending on the size of the whale. Once the bones have been picked clean the community moves into next stage
2. the Enrichment-Opportunist Phase: All of the little particles of decaying matter that settled on the seafloor enriched the sediments. This brings small organisms such as worms and mollusks that will feed on the sediment as well as the bones. This stage can last up to two years as the organisms break down the more easily digested nutrients.
3. the last phase is the Sulfophilic Phase: This is based completely off of the skeleton. The bones are approximately 60% lipids (oils/fats). Bacteria break down these oils and produce sulfide. Then they use the sulfide to undergo chemosynthesis. This allows for clams, snails, crabs, mussels, etc to eat the organic matter (sugar) produced by the bacteria like at the other communities.
Whale fall communities provide stepping stones for bacteria moving between vents or seeps. Carcasses are found, on average, about every 16 miles. These diverse communities provide a great research area as scientists have found up to 190 different species at a whale fall--some of which are found nowhere else in the world.
Whale falls are created when a whale dies and sinks to the ocean floor. This carcass brings an immense amount of food to an area where food is scarce. There are 3 stages to a whale fall community.
1. the Mobile Scavenger Phase: Within days of the carcass landing, scavengers have arrived and are feasting on the decaying flesh. This phase lasts a few months depending on the size of the whale. Once the bones have been picked clean the community moves into next stage
2. the Enrichment-Opportunist Phase: All of the little particles of decaying matter that settled on the seafloor enriched the sediments. This brings small organisms such as worms and mollusks that will feed on the sediment as well as the bones. This stage can last up to two years as the organisms break down the more easily digested nutrients.
3. the last phase is the Sulfophilic Phase: This is based completely off of the skeleton. The bones are approximately 60% lipids (oils/fats). Bacteria break down these oils and produce sulfide. Then they use the sulfide to undergo chemosynthesis. This allows for clams, snails, crabs, mussels, etc to eat the organic matter (sugar) produced by the bacteria like at the other communities.
Whale fall communities provide stepping stones for bacteria moving between vents or seeps. Carcasses are found, on average, about every 16 miles. These diverse communities provide a great research area as scientists have found up to 190 different species at a whale fall--some of which are found nowhere else in the world.