The prevailing theory, known as the "larval dispersal hypothesis," holds that deep-sea vents are colonized by larvae that are transported by ocean currents from other hydrothermal vent sites. However, the new study suggests that colonization may also occur through a process called "adult rafting," in which adult animals transport themselves to new vents using floating objects such as pieces of wood or kelp.
The study was conducted using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to collect samples of animals from deep-sea vents in the Monterey Bay Canyon. The researchers found that a number of the animals they collected were not typical of hydrothermal vent communities, but were instead associated with floating objects. This suggests that these animals may have rafted to the vents from other locations.
The researchers also used computer models to simulate the dispersal of larvae and adult animals from deep-sea vents. The models showed that adult rafting could be a more efficient means of colonization than larval dispersal, especially for species that have large and heavy larvae.
The study's findings have implications for our understanding of the ecology of deep-sea vents and the processes that shape these unique ecosystems. They also suggest that adult rafting may be a more important mode of dispersal for marine animals than previously thought.
The study was published in the journal "Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences."
