As the Monterey Bay Aquarium prepares for the launch of the 2022 exhibit, "Into the Deep: Exploring Our Undiscovered Ocean," MBARI deep-sea biologist Shannon Johnson shares some of her favorite stories about hydrothermal vents and the life that thrives at these magnificent deep-sea habitats. Towering chimneys spew hot, mineral-laden water out of the deep seafloor. The astonishing communities that live on and around the vents have evolved to not only withstand but flourish in the extreme temperature and chemical conditions.

Colonies of giant tubeworms, Riftia pachyptila, have a symbiotic relationship with chemosynthetic microbes that convert methane and sulfides from the water into energy for the worms. Bizzare-looking zoarcid vent fish, Thermarces cerberus, live among the tubeworms, feeding on parasites off their tubes. Small Pompeii worms, Alvinella pompejana—the most heat-tolerant animals on the planet—extract minerals out of the scalding vent fluid.

Our ocean is the largest home for life on Earth. For more than three decades, MBARI researchers have been exploring the deep ocean with remotely operated vehicles, discovering fascinating ways that creatures have evolved to live in these harsh environments. Now, with more companies looking to extract resources from unique areas like hydrothermal vents, it is more important than ever to study the deep sea and the wonders it holds. There is much to learn in order to manage ocean resources wisely. If we are not careful, there is much to lose before we even know what may be lost.

Learn more about MBARI’s research and the incredible discoveries we've made as we explore the ocean at https://www.mbari.org.

Monterey Bay Aquarium video production team: Christy Chamberlain, Presley Adamson
Editor: Lou Laprocido
MBARI video production team: Kyra Schlining, Susan von Thun, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Heidi Cullen

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