Deep-Sea Life Without Sunlight
Science · Ocean Life · conceptual
Contrast photosynthesis (energy from sunlight) with chemosynthesis (energy from oxidising chemicals like hydrogen sulphide); describe hydrothermal vent communities: chemoautotrophic bacteria form the base of a food web supporting tube worms, giant clams, and vent crabs with no sunlight; explore what deep-sea life tells us about the origin of life on Earth; explain why NASA studies ocean vents as analogues for potential life around hydrothermal activity on Europa and Enceladus
Check your understanding
Can Deep-Sea Life Without Sunlight describe a community of animals living at the bottom of the ocean that gets its energy from volcanic chemicals rather than sunlight — and explain why scientists are excited about what this might mean for life on other planets?
Prerequisites
Required first