Hydrothermal Vent Species

Hydrothermal vents are unique ecosystems where super-heated, mineral-rich water spews out from openings in the ocean floor. They resemble underwater volcanoes and host a diversity of life. Hydrothermal vents are an amazing chemosynthetic ecosystem where animals (often in partnership with bacteria) derive nutrients from chemicals released from the vents, rather than photosynthesis.

 Unfortunately, many of these incredible vent ecosystems are under threat as they are areas of interest for mining. Species that live on hydrothermal vents are thus also threatened as their habitat is often limited to a single vent system. This means that if a vent was severely damaged or destroyed by mining activities, entire species could also go extinct. This urgency has compelled SOSA to assess  the current global extinction risk of marine invertebrate animals that live exclusively on hydrothermal vents, and add them to the IUCN Red List. The assessment following the IUCN Red List standards allows for measuring and communicating the impact of potential threats on these species and the effectiveness of the existing conservation measures.

To take on this important task, the Marine Invertebrates Red List Authority (MIRLA), a group led by SOSA that aims to increase the number of assessed marine invertebrates on the IUCN Red List, has convened a special ‘Vent Red List’ group. The Vent Red List group is made up of 15 members who have embarked on plans to assess 430 vent-endemic species to add them to the IUCN Red List!  

 These vent-living animals include species like Pavelius smileyi – a species of marine worm found on a hydrothermal vent field in the Arctic Ocean that gets its name from its happy appearance. Or Exitomelita sigynae, an amphipod found crawling in cracks and crevices of underwater chimneys spewing fluids between fluids between 310 and 320°C.  

 One species, Chrysomallon squamiferum, otherwise known as the scaly-foot snail, serves as an inspiration for the Vent Red List group. This was the first hydrothermal vent animal to be assessed and added on the IUCN Red List as ‘Endangered’ due to deep-sea mining. This charismatic snail has a foot covered in hundreds of scales (called dermal sclerites) coated in iron sulfide, which not only create an armor-like appearance, but actually make this snail magnetic!

 Mining a hydrothermal vent site would destroy the animals living there and forever alter their unique habitat. Assessing and listing these species on the IUCN Red List can create the information and data necessary to build the case for strategic coordinated action – like designating Marine Protected Areas or banning deep-sea mining – that can protect these species and their homes.

Learn more about SOSA’s efforts to protect marine invertebrate species here: https://sosa.senckenberg.de/en/protect/mirla