The exotic animals that inhabit underwater volcanic vents are the subject of a public talk held at Southampton Oceanography Centre next Thursday, 2nd November 2000 at 7.15pm.
Attendance is free.
Forget the plains of Africa or the rainforests that you see on TV wildlife programmes the deep-sea is the largest habitat for life on our planet. Dr Jon Copley has spent several years piecing together the lives of the strange animals that flourish around volcanic vents on the ocean floor. These vents spew out plumes of toxic chemicals and water heated to over 300 degrees Centigrade. Dr Copley said 'Despite living in what seems, to us, to be the most hostile environment on Earth, these animals have found a habitat in which they can thrive. There are swarms of shrimp that feed on bacteria growing in the chemicals and heat.