EVOLUTION  PHYLOGENETICS  BIODIVERSITY  CONSERVATION

As we know Hydrothermal vents host complex ecosystems populated by specially adapted organisms, such as Alvinocaridid shrimp, which are abundant across vent fields in different oceans. These shrimp vary by species and distribution, with some living close to the vents and others further away. Their eye structures also differ—some have large dorsal eyes, while others have fused front-facing eyes—possibly linked to their feeding strategies and habitat zones. Despite previous assumptions that adult shrimp are blind, this may be due to damage caused by bright submersible lights during collection. The project proposes using gentler collection methods and surveys of various light sources, including bioluminescence and chemiluminescence, to investigate whether these shrimp can perceive light and how that might help them locate and adapt to vent environments.

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Researchers aim to clarify whether vent shrimp truly lose vision as adults or if past studies misinterpreted eye damage from light exposure as degeneration. Early shrimp life stages have normal eyes, suggesting that adults retain visual capacity, potentially useful in detecting faint ambient or biological light in the deep sea. The study will combine genetic matching, physiological testing of light sensitivity, structural analysis of eyes, and low-light imaging of the environment. The findings may not only reshape our understanding of vision in vent ecosystems but also inspire advanced optical technologies, similar to how lobster eyes contributed to telescope design.