Page 38 - World of Animals - Issue #29

Interview with a…

Marine scientist

A biological oceanographer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,

Stace Beaulieu specialises in the mysterious animals of the deep sea

What different habitats sea life range from cabled instruments
Shrimp at a
can be found in the lowered or towed from a research vessel, hydrothermal field on

deep ocean? to tethered or autonomous robots, to the Mid-Cayman Rise
The deep ocean is a vast, human-occupied vehicles (HOVs). There
dark, cold habitat with are also autonomous platforms called
an average depth of four ‘landers’ that can be deployed for longer
kilometres (2.5 miles). Most studies, with bait and time-lapse cameras.
of the seabed is covered in soft sediments
but there are also underwater mountains What is the most shocking thing that you
called seamounts and long ridges, have found at the bottom of the sea?
associated with volcanic activity along In 2005, I had an amazing opportunity
Earth’s plate boundaries. Hydrothermal to dive in the HOV Alvin to hydrothermal
vents are relatively small and distinct vents at the Galapagos Rift. The mission
habitats can be found along these ridges. was to relocate and sample the Garden of
Eden vent, the first deep-sea hydrothermal

What are hydrothermal vents, and what vent discovered in 1977. The HOV Alvin has
lives there? three passengers and many external lights
’Hydrothermal’ refers to the hot and cameras, but still, it is difficult to see

water spewing into the deep cold more than five to ten metres (16.4 to 32.8
sea. Hydrothermal vents can reach inches) away from the vehicle. We followed

temperatures over 350 degrees Celsius a fissure, essentially a big crack at the sea

(660 degrees Fahrenheit)! Importantly, floor, and then started seeing some crabs,
microbes are able to use the venting fluids which indicated that we were nearing

as a source of energy. This allows for lush, a hydrothermal vent field. Then out my
dense communities to thrive in the dark, viewport, I caught a glimpse of something
food-limited deep sea. The species that white against the dark volcanic basalt.

we find are unique to deep-sea vents and It was the most exciting and rewarding
often have unique adaptations, such as the moment when the pilot slowly and carefully
tube worm Riftia pachyptila. turned Alvin, and the large white tubes
and red plumes of a massive community of Check out
www.whoi.edu
How does life survive at such depths? tube worms came into view in front of us. for more info about
Interestingly, because most of the body the amazing research
tissue of animals is water, pressure is not being carried out
the greatest challenge. Access to food How to begin your at Woods Hole
Oceanographic
and mates is not challenging at deep-sea Institution
vents as food is produced here and animals marine science career
are densely packed together. A bigger
challenge is maintenance of populations. Stace says the best thing about her
Sometimes the vents shut off, and when job can be summed up in a single
that happens, for a population to persist, word: “Discovery. Sometimes, when I
another vent habitat must be colonised. am examining a sample or looking at
photographs from the deep sea, I am
excited to find an animal that I have

What techniques do you use to study the
life this far down? never seen before,” she tells us. “And
Working in the deep sea is like working in a couple of times in my career, I have
inner space. Techniques for studying deep- found an animal that no one has ever
seen before.” If you’re keen to get a slice
of the action for yourself, Stace has this
“A massive advice: “For aspiring marine scientists,
I recommend a strong background in
community of maths and sciences, but also writing
and communication skills are important.
tube worms I personally learnt a lot about the Scientists tested the
research process by participating in
came into view science fairs in school. Today, there are capabilities on a cruise
upgraded Alvin’s new
also opportunities to get involved in
in the Gulf of Mexico
in front of us” citizen science in your local community.” in March 2014
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