Ecosystem Supported by Volcano

A continously growing, active undersea volcano, named NW Rota-1, near the island of Guam, seems to be creating unique underwater environmental conditions that are giving rise to a new type of ecosystem. The underwater conditions being created are mainly due to the volcanic gases emitted, such as CO2 and sulfur mixing with seawater. NW Rota-1 has been continiously erupting since scientists first began recording its activity in 2004. This continuous eruption, has led to the buildup of a 40 meter high "cone" that has caused a significant increase in the amount of animals living on the vlocano.

Animals found to thrive in the extremely acidic environment found on the volcano include shrimp, crabs, limpets, and barnacles. There have even been new species of shrimp never before seen, and thought to have evolved on the NW Rota-1 volcano. These animals have evolved a variety of morphological and genetic adaptations in order to withstand and thrive in the harsh chemical environment, which would normally kill any other type or marine organism.

Most of these animals are thriving due to the large amount of food found on the volcano. Bacterial filaments coating the volcanic rocks provide a stable and abundant food source. Favorable environmental conditions for the bacteria to grow are due to the hydrothermal venting of the volcano.

An example of an organism that has evolved in this environment is thought to have diverged from the Lohi Shrimp, which also is found in great amounts on NW Rota -1. The Lohi shrimp have only been found on one other small active underwater volcano near Hawaii, and may have possibly evolved from a different species of shrimp in that area. This type of shrimp utilizes small claws to graze on the bacterial filament found on rocks. A new species of shrimp found on the NW Rota-1, appears similar to the Lohi shrimp during development, but during the adult stage the front claws enlarge and exhibit predator like behavior, mainly attacking the Lohi shrimp. The new species also preys on the continously rising amounts of dead marine organisms found near the volcano.

Ecosystems such as these provide scientists with a large amount of information to study and learn about evolving ecosystems, submarine volcanic activity, as well as organism adaptation to extremely acidic envrionments.

-Julio Rodriguez (group C)

Update:
Most of the information on this newly found ecosystem at the Nw Rota-1 volcano is fairly recent. I could not find any detailed information about the new species of shrimp evolved here, except for observations made. For example, that unlike the Lohi shrimp, this newly formed species also attacks dead organisms near the volcano. As you may imagine, there must be alot of dead organisms near the volcano due to the highly acidic conditions.

There are very few active volcanoes around, and even less known underwater ones. This volcano is the only deep submarine volcano to be closely observed. The amount of organisms living at the site is probably due to the fact that they have no natural competitors. These are organisms that have managed to survive and quickly adapt to this new envrionment. Most of the animals living at the volcano are crustaceans and have some kind of outershell protectant. The shell may have served as a protectant to the acidic conditions. Other marine organism around the area quickly die and are consumed as food. This creates an ideal environment for these animals, until of course, they overpopulate and surpass a certain carrying capacity of the volcano. This means that the limit of space and food available needed to sustain the animals on the volcano is exceeded; resulting in a rapid decline in their population.

If no eruptions take place for a while,(meaning x amount of years) the animals that have become dependant on this type of environment will die off, while others that can adapt again to normal marine conditions will continue to thrive. This though, is highly dependant on how quickly marine conditions can go back to normal.

As far as pertaining to human health, if the shells of the shrimp or other crustaceans living on this volcano contain high amounts of chitin, or a similar compound, then these organisms could be very benefical for humans. Chitin is a very useful organic fiber that has very useful properties. When isolated, it is antifungal, antibacterial, can serve as treatment for burn wounds and can also repel insects.