Chapter 1
Survival in the twilight and midnight zones
Chapter 2
Life without sunlight at hydrothermal vents
Chapter 3
Bizarre giants of the abyssal plains
Chapter 4
Modern exploration tech and recent discoveries
YOUR GOAL
Master of Into the deep ocean
Ch 2 · Life without sunlight at hydrothermal vents
artiteacher Life at hydrothermal vents
No sunlight ever, way down deep below! / Oh-oh-oh, new life still can grow! / Hydrothermal vents give a chemical spree! / Yeah, chemosynthesis sets life free!
artiteacher These pale crustacean species farm their own food by growing thick mats of bacteria on their hairy claws.
artiteacher These bright red worms grow up to eight feet long near vents, surviving entirely without mouths, guts, or eyes.
Fun Fact
Superheated vents: Hydrothermal vents can spew water at 400°C, yet the water doesn't boil because of the immense pressure of the deep ocean.
Glossary
chemosynthesis (noun)
The synthesis of organic compounds by bacteria or other organisms using energy derived from chemical reactions. In 1977, scientists first discovered this process sustaining thriving communities at Galápagos Rift seafloor hot springs.
The synthesis of organic compounds by bacteria or other organisms using energy derived from chemical reactions. In 1977, scientists first discovered this process sustaining thriving communities at Galápagos Rift seafloor hot springs.
Quiz
In which year did scientists first discover thriving hydrothermal vent ecosystems on the ocean floor?
Quiz
What biological process do hydrothermal vent creatures use to produce energy instead of photosynthesis?
Quiz
What specialized organ does the eyeless vent shrimp use to navigate near superheated black smokers?
Quiz
At what extreme temperature can water spew from deep-sea hydrothermal vents without boiling?
Quiz
What organ inside giant tube worms houses the symbiotic bacteria that keep them alive?
Quiz
What unique material does the scaly-foot snail incorporate into its shell and scales to protect itself?
Quiz
How does the yeti crab obtain its primary source of food near hydrothermal vents?