A team of marine biologists from the University of California, Santa Barbara, reported the unexpected presence of small krill species in hydrothermal vent ecosystems off the Pacific seafloor. Using remotely operated vehicles, researchers captured footage of krill feeding on chemoautotrophic bacteria near vent chimneys at depths exceeding 2,500 meters. The finding challenges the long‑standing belief that krill are confined to sunlit surface waters. Lead scientist Dr. Maya Patel suggested that the krill may be exploiting a previously unknown food web, linking surface and deep‑sea carbon cycles. Further studies are planned to determine how these organisms adapt to extreme temperatures and chemical conditions.
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