Tags: deep sea

The complex and dynamic microbial communities and microbially-mediated processes that occur in the ocean help stabilize the earth's climate.  Far below the ocean's surface, along the seafloor, hydrothermal vents release heat and chemicals into the deep water that fuel vibrant, breathtaking ecosystems. The microbial communities associated with hydrothermal vents are hot spots of biological production in the deep sea. In shallow waters and…