Volcanic Activity Shapes Life on the Seafloor
In Volcanic Activity Shapes Life on the Seafloor narrator David Attenborough showcases volcanic activity beneath the ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is split by an immense volcanic mountain chain stretching 45,000 miles. In some places, fissures release superheated, mineral-rich water, forming towering chimneys called hydrothermal vents. Despite extreme temperatures and toxic chemicals, bacteria thrive here, forming the base of an ecosystem independent of sunlight. Shrimp and other crustaceans graze on these bacteria, creating a unique deep-sea community. Similar vents exist in the Pacific Ocean, where different species have adapted to similar conditions. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: What causes hydrothermal vents to form?
A: Superheated water from volcanic fissures rises, carrying dissolved minerals that solidify into towering chimneys.
Q: How do deep-sea creatures survive without sunlight?
A: Bacteria perform chemosynthesis, using chemicals instead of sunlight to produce energy, supporting a unique food chain.
Q: Why are hydrothermal vent communities different in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?
A: The isolation of vents means species evolve differently, leading to unique adaptations in each ocean.
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In Towering Underwater Volcanic Peaks, narrator David Attenborough explores the underwater volcanoes that rise nearly 30,000 feet (9,000 meters) from the seafloor, reaching close to the ocean's surface. These towering peaks create nutrient-rich environments that support an abundance of marine life. Ocean currents push nutrients toward the surface, fueling plankton blooms that attract fish and other sea creatures. A Mola mola (ocean sunfish) visits one of these seamounts to be cleaned by reef fish, which remove parasites from its skin. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Towering Underwater Volcanic Peaks, narrator David Attenborough explores the underwater volcanoes that rise nearly 30,000 feet (9,000 meters) from the seafloor, reaching close to the ocean's surface. These towering peaks create nutrient-rich environments that support an abundance of marine life. Ocean currents push nutrients toward the surface, fueling plankton blooms that attract fish and other sea creatures. A Mola mola (ocean sunfish) visits one of these seamounts to be cleaned by reef fish, which remove parasites from its skin. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.