Alien World of Deep Sea Vents

Hydrothermal Vents provide the necessary components for a deep sea community of organisms to form. Here, at depths of 2000 metres or more, life gathers around hydrothermal vents in great numbers. Hot, mineral-rich fluids supply chemicals and nutrients, which form the basis of a food web for a diverse community of specialised organisms. An oasis of life in the deep. Since their discovery in 1977 near the Galapagos Rift, hydrothermal vents have redefined our understanding of the requirements for life to survive. Up to that point, we had thought all life depended on sunlight to survive, but this extreme ecosystem represents the only place on Earth where the ultimate source of energy for life is not sunlight, but the Earth itself. #deepsea #wildlife #nature #animals #ocean #fish #science #biology Resources: