This volume synthesizes the relevant data that is fundamental to our understanding of trace metal biogeochemistry and the ecology of biological communities of deep-sea vent systems. It presents the combined results of biological and geochemical research and analyzes the microdistribution of animals and the spatial structure of vent communities. Careful consideration is given to the export of iron and other trace metals from hydrothermal vents. The environmental conditions to be found in deep-sea hydrothermal community habitats, along with the trace metal behavior in biotope water are characterized and the sources and forms of trace metals taken up by dominant hydrothermal vent animals are discussed. Special attention is paid to the poorly investigated deep biosphere of the sub-seafloor igneous crust. The book is illustrated with a wealth of exceptional deep-sea photos taken by the manned submersible "Mir", and a dedicated chapter focuses on the role of deep manned submersibles in ocean research. The book will be of interest to researchers and students in the fields of oceanography, geochemistry, biology, the environmental sciences and marine ecology.

This book presents a new perspective on the sedimentation processes in the White Sea, based on a multidisciplinary research study conducted between 2001 and 2016. It provides a comprehensive review and discusses the latest research findings on the ecosystem of this sub-arctic zone. The topics addressed include suspended particulate matter as a main source and proxy of the sedimentation processes in the White Sea; vertical fluxes of dispersed sedimentary matter and absolute masses in the White Sea; and the development history and quaternary deposits of the modern White Sea basin. The authors closely examine the abundance and species composition of microalgae associations and the environmental conditions in the bottom sediments of the White Sea, namely, heavy metal accumulation and aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The book ends contain a summary of the key conclusions and recommendations. Together with the companion volume Biogeochemistry of the Atmosphere, Ice and Water of the White Sea: The White Sea Environment Part I, it offers an essential source of information for postgraduate students, researchers, and stakeholders alike.

This volume synthesizes the relevant data that is fundamental to our understanding of trace metal biogeochemistry and the ecology of biological communities of deep-sea vent systems. It presents the combined results of biological and geochemical research and analyzes the microdistribution of animals and the spatial structure of vent communities. Careful consideration is given to the export of iron and other trace metals from hydrothermal vents. The environmental conditions to be found in deep-sea hydrothermal community habitats, along with the trace metal behavior in biotope water are characterized and the sources and forms of trace metals taken up by dominant hydrothermal vent animals are discussed. Special attention is paid to the poorly investigated deep biosphere of the sub-seafloor igneous crust. The book is illustrated with a wealth of exceptional deep-sea photos taken by the manned submersible "Mir", and a dedicated chapter focuses on the role of deep manned submersibles in ocean research. The book will be of interest to researchers and students in the fields of oceanography, geochemistry, biology, the environmental sciences and marine ecology.