Hydrothermal Vents

In the late 1970's, scientists on a regular study of the ocean floor in the Pacific Ocean made a discovery that would stun the entire scientific community. On the East Pacific Rise not far from the Galapagos Islands, nearly 8000 feet below the surface, was a strange landscape covered with what looked like underwater chimneys secreting clouds of black smoke. Surrounding these chimneys was a unique type of ecosystem that had never been seen before.

Until this day, science had always assumed that all life on Earth obtained its energy from the Sun. Plants convert sunlight into energy through a process called photosynthesis. The plants, in turn, provide food and oxygen for countless species of animals in a complex web of life. But here was a sight that challenged those assumptions for the scientific community.

Scientists had discovered deep-sea hydrothermal vents. These vents occur in geologically active regions of the ocean floor. Within these regions, seawater seeps down deep into the Earth's crust through cracks and fissures in the ocean floor. This water is then heated by magma below the surface. As the water is heated to a boil, it expands and rises back to the surface. On its way back up, the hot water dissolves minerals and other chemicals from the rock. When it reaches the ocean floor, the water is a dark chemical mixture full of nutrients. Some of the minerals precipitate out of the seawater and harden on the rim of the vent. Over time, the rim of the vent is built up into a tall, chimney-like structure.

The dark color of the water coming from these vents has earned them the name "black smokers". The temperature of the water coming out of these vents usually exceeds 360 degrees. Another shock to scientists was the discovery that a countless number of life forms actually live and thrive around these vents, totally cut off from sunlight. Incredible deep-sea creatures and lengendary sea monsters have been known of for quite some time. But before these discoveries, scientists thought these animals all depended on the regions above for their nutrition; they fed on small scraps of food and dead animals that fell from above. Here at the vents, though, something entirely different was taking place. These organisms were getting their food directly from the vents. This process is known as chemosynthesis.

Bacteria in the water actually feed on what would otherwise be a lethal soup of toxic chemicals. Smaller animals feed on these bacteria, and these smaller animals provide food for the larger animals. It is an entire ecosystem totally separate from the world of light and photosynthesis as we knew it. A large number of strange and wondrous creatures have been found at these vent sites. Giant tube worms eight feet in length dominate the landscape. Small shrimp and crabs feed on the tube worms. Clams cover the ocean floor. These waters are so fertile that shrimp have been known to literally total in the millions near these hydrothermal vents.

The viperfish, also known scientifically as chauliodus sloani, is one of the fiercest predators of the deep. This fish can be easily recognized by its large mouth and sharp, fang-like teeth. In fact, these fangs are so large that they do not fit inside its mouth. Instead, they curve back very close to the fish's eyes. The viper is thought to use these sharp teeth to impale its victims by swimming at them at high speeds. The first vertebra, right behind the head, actually acts as a shock absorber. This terrifying looking creature has a long dorsal spine that is tipped with a photophore, a light-producing organ. The viperfish uses this light organ to attract its prey. By flashing it on and off, it can be used like a fishing lure to attract smaller fish.

The gulper eel, known scientifically as eurypharynx pelecanoides, is perhaps one of the most bizarre looking creatures in the deep ocean. Its most notable attribute is the large mouth. The eel's mouth is loosely hinged, and can be opened wide enough to swallow an animal of a much greater size. This giant mouth gives the eel its other common name of umbrellamouth gulper. The gulper eel's