Fountains of Life: The Story of Deep-Sea Vents (First Book)

Discusses the formation and discovery of hydrothermal vents and the unusual animals and plants that can be found near them

Grade 4-6-A colorful picture of smoking rock chimneys surrounded by giant tubeworms and clams invites readers into the unusual ecosystem of deep-sea vents. The first chapter introduces life-forms specific to this habitat and illustrates them with full-color photographs. The book goes on to recapitulate the discovery of hot vents in 1977. The narrative includes vivid comparisons in order to explain the difficulties of this type of deep-sea exploring. It describes where the superheated water comes from, the geology of the vents, and how the rock chimneys are formed from the chemicals in the hot water. Color diagrams of the formation of new sea floor and tectonic plates are clear and understandable, and the computer-generated map of the ocean floor pulsates in vibrant color. Full-color illustrations amplify the descriptions, definitions, and explanations. This title updates R. V. Fodor's The Strange World of Deep-Sea Vents (Enslow, 1991) and John F. Waters's Deep-Sea Vents (Cobblehill, 1994) and provides better quality photographs and more detailed information. A resource list refers readers to related books, magazine articles, videos, and Web addresses.
Frances E. Millhouser, Chantilly Regional Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 4^-6. This volume from the First Book series introduces readers to deep-sea vents. First discovered in 1977, the oceans' hydrothermal vents support organisms outside the familiar food-chain of photosynthesis-based life. Here chemosynthesis gives rise to previously unknown forms of bacteria and animals. The book discusses the geological dynamics that create the vents, their discovery and exploration, and the ecosystems they support. Appended are a glossary, bibliography, and list of Web sites related to the subject. Colorful photographs and diagrams appear throughout the book. Although the book's coverage is somewhat scanty, this does provide an overview of a subject that may be difficult to find in libraries. Carolyn Phelan