Diversity hot spots at c...( Hydrothermal vents and cold seeps were ...)

Hydrothermal vents and cold seeps were discovered more than 20 years ago, yet remarkably little is known about the biodiversity of these chemosynthetic ecosystems. Deep-sea vents and seeps occur in very different geological settings, yet in both types of systems, microbial primary production supports an abundance of large invertebrates, such as giant tubeworms, clams, and mussels.

These animals in turn provide refuge for a diverse invertebrate fauna. Because seeps are considered to be more stable and less toxic than vents, ecologists expected that diversity would be greater at seeps than at vents, but this hypothesis remained untested until now. In the most recent issue of Ecology Letters, researchers at the College of William and Mary report that diversity is indeed greater in seep mussel beds compared to vent mussel beds.

Lower diversity at vents may be a consequence of a challenging physiological barrier to invasion at vents than at seeps. Moreover, diversity at vents is lowest where spacing between vents is extensive, suggesting that risks of extinction due to limited dispersal may be important in governing biodiversity in the deep sea.

'"/>

Contact: Emily Davis
emily.davis@oxon.blackwellpublishing.com
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
22-May-2003

Page: 1
Related biology news :

1. Fostering Diversity in the Sciences Symposium
2. Diversity: What people, grain sorghum have in common
3. Diversity of species triumphs
4. Diversity of trees in forests may be caused by soil pathogens, IU biologists find
5. Undiscovered Biological Diversity: A Symposium On Bioprospecting
6. New Areas Of High Biological Diversity Discovered
7. Little-Explored African Genetic Diversity May Hold Key To Human Origins, Medical Questions
8. "Discovering Biological Diversity" Is AAAS Topic For USGS Manager
9. Danger spots identified for threatened grizzly bear
10. Nutrient-poor oceans generate their food hot spots
11. Researcher identifies North American hotspots for fish conservation