includes information on microbial biodiversity, ecology, physiology, and the origin of life. It is the first volume available on the subject.All chapters are written by leaders in their respective fields who have made substantial contributions to the current understanding of these novel deep-sea habitats. Much of the book's material is entirely new and forward looking. Individual chapters examine the geologic setting and chemistry of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, growth at high temperatures, microbe-metal interactions and mineral deposition, stable isotopes, and more.This reference presents a unique interdisciplinary approach to the study of hydrothermal vents. Because of its thorough coverage of the subject, the book will continue to be a valuable resource for researchers in this field for the next decade.

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