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Today's update is provided by our Mexican collaborator, Luis A. Soto of UNAM, Institute of Marine Science and Limnology. Area
of Study: Guaymas
Basin Site:
Rebecca's Roost The
target area for the second day of exploration in the Guaymas Basin was a
site located in the Southern Trough at about 2,000 meters of depth. This
site represents one of the most complex edifices recognized so far in the
Guaymas Basin; it also harbors a variety of different sulfide deposits,
which acquire pagoda-like shapes that may grow up to 15 meters in height.
One can also distinguish other deposits similar to rounded mounds packed
on their surface with thick clumps of vestimentiferan worms of the genus Riftia.
Nearby there are tall chimney-like deposits, built up by the progressive
deposition of sulfide materials; hydrothermal fluid can be seen flowing
out of the top of such deposits.
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There
is evidently more biodiversity on the hard substrates than on the regular
soft sediments. However, in both cases, the morpho-physiological
adaptations exhibited by their inhabitants are equally fascinated. To test
this idea, it is only necessary to obtain a temperature profile of the
surrounding environment (water and sediment), to quickly realize the
enormous stress that these organisms are exposed to. Inside bacterial
patches, the temperature may reach up to 169º C, sufficient to break down
the molecular structure of common marine individuals. Many
question still remain unanswered in relation to the complex processes that
make possible the existence of life in the deep hydrothermal vents. The
unraveling of these mysterious forms of life represents a true challenge
for modern science. |