However, for migratory species that travel up and down the water column, eyesight is essential, so many can produce their own light. Sunlight cannot penetrate beneath these depths, so some animals have evolved without eyes. It is theorised that, due to their blindness, the crabs use their hairs as sensors to detect prey and mates in an otherwise pitch-black world.īlindness is common in many deep-sea species, because below 200 metres the ocean becomes a vast expanse of darkness. Named after their large, hairy claws, the yeti crabs are perfectly adapted to life here. Yeti crabs are another deep-sea species that survive around hydrothermal vents. This unique ability of the bacteria to thrive in these conditions, may have pioneered the evolution of species as we know them today. The bacteria utilise hydrogen sulphide, produced by plumes, converting it into sufficient energy for both itself and the tube worm host. Larger animals such as tube worms, grow on the side of the vent and survive by working in symbiosis with bacteria. Using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), researchers discovered a myriad of microorganisms that can actually live in these extreme environments. The vents spew plumes of hot water, reaching 400oC into the surrounding environment. Scientists predict that life on earth actually originated from these great depths and around hydrothermal vents. Species diversity and abundance is significantly lower in comparison to shallower zones, yet they do find a way to survive. The immense depth causes an extremely high pressure and a low average temperature along the Abyssal Plain, so not only are the organisms here well adapted to life in the shadows, but also to these other extreme conditions. Mariana’s Trench is by far the deepest, reaching a massive 11,000 metres (36,000 ft) deep, and the organisms found here are like none that you’ve ever seen on land. This zone of the ocean is also known as the Hadopelagic, named after the Greek underworld “Hades”. The Abyssal plain is occasionally interrupted by massive ocean trenches that descend even deeper into the ocean.
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