The majority of life on the planet is based in a food chain which revolves around sunlight, as plants make food via photosynthesis. In the deep ocean, however, there is no light and thus there are no plants; so instead of sunlight being the primary form of energy, chemical energy is produced via chemosynthesis. Places with chemosynthetic organisms can become oases of life in an environment often otherwise depleted of food.
During the Gulf of Mexico 2017 expedition, we discovered at least 20 previously unknown chemosynthetic habitats. These included methane seeps (some with visible methane hydrate), asphalt seeps, and brine rivers. Most of these had associated chemosynthetic communities that included large siboglinid tubeworm bushes and extensive mussel beds. There were also many areas of reduced sediments and bacterial mats. Asphaltic and authigenic carbonate outcrops hosting large filter-feeding communities were also observed in geologically active areas.
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Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Gulf of Mexico 2017.
Chemosynthetic Communities in the Gulf of Mexico
Ice Worms and Gas Hydrate-Encased Bubble Tubes
Active Asphalt Seep Discovered in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
What is the difference between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis?