Biogeography of Chemosynthetic Ecosystems (ChEss)
The project Biogeography of Chemosynthetic Ecosystems (ChEss) studies deep-water chemosynthetic ecosystems including hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, whale falls and wood debris. It aims to improve understanding of the abundance, distribution, and diversity of species living in such ecosystems, and the processes that control them, especially larval dispersal. The existence of vents and seeps was discovered relatively recently; more sites will be found in the course of ChEss. Vent and seep organisms were the first on Earth found to derive energy from a source other than sunlight, using instead chemical energy released from deep within the Earth, challenging traditional ecological dogma, and revealing a wealth of new species previously unknown to exist. This newly discovered ecosystem provides a potential new source for biomedicine and biotechnology exploration.
For current news and information, please visit the ChEss project website.
ChEss Project Team
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Reports and Other Documents
Workshop Report and Documents: Biogeography of Chemosynthetic Ecosystems, Southampton, UK, 16-18 June 2003 (ChEss/Ridge2000/Ocean Exploration/InterRidge)
