The Deep Sea

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013, Caroline Hattam, Plymouth Marine Laboratory,   "The Youth Guide to Biodiversity" 1st Edition (Chapter 8) Youth and United Nations Global Alliance. Reproduced with permission.

Chapter 8. Verbatim.

The deep sea is full of weird and wonderful life. It is not a flat, barren place but contains a number of biodiversity hotspots, areas of high species diversity and habitat richness, such as:

Seamounts: these underwater mountains provide a range of living conditions suitable for rich and diverse marine communities.

Cold-water coral reefs: found from 200 to 1000 m below the surface, they provide food and shelter for hundreds of different species, including commercially important fish.

Deep sea sponge fields: these are found in clear, nutrient-rich waters and provide a living space for many invertebrates and fish. 

Hydrothermal vents: are found in volcanically-active areas where warm, mineral-rich water is released into the sea. The food chain is based on bacteria that convert sulphur compounds into energy. The bacteria support large numbers of organisms.

Gas hydrate vents and cold seeps: these are areas on the sea floor where hydrocarbons and mineral-rich cold water escape into the sea. The bacteria found here use methane to produce energy and, like hydrothermal vents, they support large communities of animals.