Hydrothermal vent ostracoda and faunal association in the deep sea

Abstract

Ostracod faunas from Pacific hydrothermal vents include eucytherurine and pontocypridid Podocopa and are very similar to those previously recorded from experimental wood islands. Both vent and wood-island ostracods may belong to a single deep-sea faunal association that is adapted to a eutrophic regime. This regime, which is quite distinct from normal deep-sea conditions, is probably widespread in the world's ocean, although individual manifestations tent to be localized and ephemeral.