Evolution of fishes at deep-sea hydrothermal vents
Kopecký, M. (2025). Evolution of fishes at deep-sea hydrothermal vents. BA Thesis. Charles University, Faculty of Science: Prague. 33 pp.
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Documenttype: Doctoraat/Thesis/Eindwerk
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Deep sea
Geography > Biogeography
Hydrothermal vents
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| Abstract |
This bachelor's thesis is a review of the geographical distribution and evolutionary adaptation of deep-sea fishes from the deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Hydrothermal vents are one of the most extreme deep-sea environments which has been successfully colonised mostly by invertebrates and chemolithotrophic bacteria. Yet, various fish, elasmobranch and hagfish species are described from all of the main biogeographical provinces. Only a few fish families are represented with true vent-endemic species that vary across the biogeographical provinces. However, they seem to have evolved similar physiological and life-history adaptations enabling them to withstand the high pressure, low oxygen, acidic and toxic environment and elevated temperatures. Some of these adaptations are shared with freshwater fish species from sulphide- rich hot springs. At the same time, some of the adaptations vary across the species, indicating different evolutionary histories and the ecological diversification within the vent habitat. Moreover, hydrothermal vents are visited by other deep-sea fishes using them as an energy source, but potentially as nurseries and safe refugia. Key words deep-sea fish, hydrothermal vents, biogeography, evolutionary adaptation. |
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