Notes on Vent Field Description:
Segment E3, EPR; Baker et al. (2002) inferred small vent field from plume characteristics; high-temperature fluids sampled in January 1999; http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/EasterMicroplate/index.htm; located between Easter Microplate and Juan Fernandez Microplate
Notes Relevant to Biology:
Alvin dive 3337 log includes "Anemones, Bacterial mats, Crabs, Mussels, Non-vent fish, Other worms, Sea cucumbers, Sea stars, Snails/Limpets, Sponges, Tube worms, Vent fish"; species listed in Table 1 in Hey et al. (2006)
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first):
1999 submersible Alvin; 1998 plume only
Discovery References (text):
Lupton, J., et al., Gas chemistry of hydrothermal fluids along the East Pacific Rise, 5°S to 32°S, Eos Trans. AGU, 80(46) Fall Meet. Suppl., F1099, 1999
(plume only) Baker et al., 2002, J. Geophys. Res. 107, Hydrothermal venting along Earth's fastest spreading center: East Pacific Rise, 27.5°-32.3°, doi:10.1029/2001JB000651.
Other References (text):
Hey, R., et al. (2004) Tectonic/volcanic segmentation and controls on hydrothermal venting along the Earth's fastest seafloor spreading system, EPR 27°-32°S, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 5(12): 10.1029/2004GC000764
Hey et al. (2006) Hydrothermal Vent Geology and Biology at Earth’s Fastest Spreading Rates. Marine Geophysical Researches 27:137-153, DOI 10.1007/s11001-005-1887-x.