Nutritional relations of deep-sea hydrothermal fields at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: a stable isotope approach

A model is presented for hydrothermal vent populations of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Atlantic Ocean. Four trophic levels were observed, including primary consumers which feed exclusively on bacteria, mixotrophs which feed on both bacteria and small invertebrates, vent predators which feed exclusively on small invertebrates, and top predators which are comprised of deep-sea fauna.