Although the deep sea represents the largest biosphere on planet earth, little is known about its environment. Emerging challenges impacting the deep sea, such as climate change and carbon emissions, underscore the value of understanding the fundamental processes that govern its ecosystem. A research collaboration led by Kristin Tessmar-Raible aims to provide new insights into biological rhythms in this, to date, under-explored environment. “We aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms, evolution, and ecological relevance of temporal processes at hydrothermal vents compared to surface life. Even in the alien world of the deep sea, environmental conditions such as temperature, chemical composition, and pressure change regularly, and organisms make use of this”, she says.
The Lucky Strike Vent, which lies at a depth of 1,700 m, is a well-characterized deep-sea environment for which large amounts of data already exist. It is home to several organisms, including the vent mollusk Bathymodiolus azoricus. To investigate the environmental stimuli that influence biological rhythms in the deep sea, the Tessmar-Raible lab will study B. azoricus under controlled conditions in the lab.
The consortium consists of a deep-sea ecologist, an evolutionary biologist and expert in low light detection systems, and a biophysicist. With their combined expertise, the team will investigate ecological interactions, cues, and sensors, as well as develop tools to predict how temporally ordered biological processes influence organismal adaptability near the limits of life. Kristin emphasizes: "By traversing biological scales of investigation, our aim is to understand the mechanisms by which rhythmic processes help organisms to flourish in very different environments. Our findings will illuminate the interconnectedness and resilience of life on Earth and provide guidance for sustainable practices."
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