Hydrothermal Vents

A hydrothermal vent is a fissure on the seafloor. Hydrothermal vents are usually found in areas of the oceans bottom that is volcanically active. From these vents, flows water that has been heated by underlying magma. The water can reach temperatures as hot as 400°C (752°F) and they usually contain dissolved minerals that precipitate out of the vent upon contact with the colder oceans water. As these minerals flow out of the vents, it creates a chimney like structure, composed of minerals. Hydrothermal vents form an ecosystem for microbes and other marine life, such as tubeworms, clams, and shrimp. These animals are able to withstand these harsh environments. The hottest hydrothermal vents are called black smokers because they spew iron and sulfide which combine to form iron monosulfide, a black compound. The other vents, ones that release cooler water and compounds like barium, silicon and calcium are usually refered to as white smokers.
In order to support a rich community in those harsh environments, a base in the foodchain has to be present. In these environments, that would be chemosynthetic bacteria. The vents not only poor out minerals, but they also provide plenty of these bacteria that support other marine animals. These bacteria are able to use sulfer compounds, in a process called chemosynthesis, to create organic material. These bacteria grow into thick mats, which then attract other marine animals that feed on them. Other aminals like clams, snails, crabs, shrimp, tubeworms, fish and octopuses then form the rest of the food chain, on a predator prey system above herbivores. In these ecosystems, the hydrothermal vent is dependent for the survival of other species because it is the primary source of energy. From studing hydrothermal vents, scientists have discovered over 300 new species.
The first hydrothermal vent discovered was in 1977. Now scientists know that they exist throughout the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, in the Mid-Ocean Ridge System. Scientists are trying to learn more about the hydrothermal vent because they believe they play important roles in the ocean's, chemistry, temperatureand circulation patterns. Scientists are also amazed by the unusual life that survive around these ecosystems. These creatures may help with new drugs, industrial products and other useful things.

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~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent
~http://www.ocean.udel.edu/deepsea/level-2/geology/vents.html