Photosynthesis deep within ocean waters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Photosynthesis deep within ocean waters - Essay Example These little organisms find a way to live in such places by adjusting accordingly and are highly resistant. The existence of microbial life in deep sea was discovered ages ago. They have been sorted out into different categories depending upon their properties. The sea bed is a diverse environment which is rich in nutrients. The organic material settles down as sediments at the bottom which comes from dead plants and animals and it is a source of energy for microbial life. Therefore in these sites most particularly the sea floor where nutrients are present diverse microbial communities exists. There are micro organisms which can survive even in energy depleted conditions that is when no or limited amount of nutrients are present. Condition in deep sea is very critical as energy is most depleted there. It is difficult to understand how micro organisms survive in these conditions. (Feast and famine microbial life in the deep sea bed, 1 October 2007). Micro organisms can live in places where there is no light and an example of such place is deep sea. Sunlight cannot penetrate deep into the sea and the existence of microbial life in the dark zone of sea floor is yet to be understood. Researchers have dedicated their studies to explore life in the darkness of deep sea. Recent discovery of microbial communities in deep sea hot spring vents gives the idea that the earliest existence of life might have occurred in the deep sea in the absence of light. Before, this discovery it was assumed that light is necessary to survive as it is the primary source of energy but, now it is known that life that exists in deep sea vents survive on thermal and chemical energy provided by the vent which means that light is not necessary for survival. (Deep sea vent communities: Did life originate in the abyss?) Scientific studies reveals how organisms manage to survive in hydrothermal vents. When cold sea water mixes with the heat of hydrothermal vents it leads to the formation of organi c compounds which is a source of nutrient for the organisms. The presence of vents in oceans also helps in maintaining the temperature and chemical balance of oceans and is a source of many renewable resources. Hydrothermal circulation occurs when sea water penetrates deep into the ocean where it gets heated and then reacts with rocks and rises to the sea floor. This hydrothermal circulation plays an important role in removing and adding up different compounds and in this way maintains the composition of sea water. Hydrothermal circulation also helps in recycling the water of oceans through hydrothermal vents. (Deep sea vent communities: Did life originate in the abyss?) The environment of hydrothermal vents is harsh for survival of life. The pitch darkness of vents, poisonous gases, presence of heavy metals, extreme acidity and enormous pressure makes the existence of life almost impossible. Yet, microbial communities exist at hydrothermal vents. In deep sea there is no light and w hen there is no light the presence of solar energy is out of question. All forms of light require light directly or indirectly as a source of energy but, life in deep sea is light independent. In this case organisms use geothermal energy as their energy source to carry out their life sustaining processes. Such organisms use inorganic chemicals derived from rocks and from sea water where nutrient is abundantly available in soluble form and utilize CO2 as their sole source of carbon. (Jean, Windsor, Between a rock and a hard place,