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The
zoarcid is one of the few fish found at deep-sea vents.
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What
types of microorganisms are down there?
Some of the chemosynthetic bacteria grow in a "symbiotic"
association with many of the larger vent animals (e.g. tube
worms, clams, and mussels). Within certain organs inside these
creatures there are sacs of microorganisms that grow in symbiosis
— or in a mutual agreement — with these animals.
Microbes live in there, metabolizing the hydrogen sulfide
in the seawater and then excrete organic compounds that the
host animals use as food. The microbes get a place to live
in return.
Hyperthermophiles grow between
80 degrees and 113 degrees centigrade - the highest
temperature at which we know life exists.
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There
are also what are called "free-living bacteria" down there
and many of these are the ones that we have cultured. The
symbionts we can study, but we haven't been able to grow them
in the lab. Many free-living bacteria that carry out the same
metabolic process as the symbionts grow on the rocks and possibly
in the shallow subsurface as well and at temperatures from
ambient (2 °C) to around 30 to 35 °C.. They have very similar
counterparts that grow in the salt marshes or other areas
in the marine environment.
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These
microbes found inside a vent's chimney wall are likely
heat-loving Archaea, ancient— and perhaps the first—
form of life.
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The
next group is very interesting. They're the ones that a lot
of people are really pursuing in research right now. That's
the group of organisms that grow at the higher temperatures
and most are anaerobes — meaning they grow in the absence
of oxygen. Thermophiles grow between maybe 50-70 degrees centigrade.
The hyperthermophiles are microorganisms that grow between
80 degrees and 113 degrees centigrade — the highest temperature
at which we know life exists presently. Many of the high temperature
microorganisms — of which there have been about 70 species
isolated — belong to new genera that had not been described
prior to the discovery of the vents.
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Photos: WHOI
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