Octopuses Use Hydrothermal Vents as Nurseries

Octopuses congregating at hydrothermal vents

Biological Strategy

Muusoctopus robustus

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Image: James P. Barry, et al / Science Advances / Free non-commercial use

Regulate Reproduction or Growth

Reproduction and growth are two physiological processes that occur in all living systems. There are situations when conditions are right for both, and other situations when continuing either harms the living system because both have a very high energy cost. Reproduction and growth are unique in that both can stop until conditions improve, although stopping either for an extended time can cause problems. An example of regulating reproduction is a process called delayed implantation or embryonic diapause found in some mammals, such as otters. An otter’s embryos sometimes temporarily cease developing and won’t develop further until the female senses that conditions are suitable.

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Protect From Temperature

Many living systems function best within specific temperature ranges. Temperatures higher or lower than that range can negatively impact a living system’s physiological or chemical processes, and damage its exterior or interior. Living systems must manage high or low temperatures using minimal energy, which often requires controlling responses along incremental temperature changes. To do so, living systems use a variety of strategies, such as avoiding high or low temperatures, removing excess heat, and holding heat in. Insulation is a well-known example of managing low temperatures by retaining heat using thick layers of hair, fur, or feathers to hold warm air next to the skin.

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Cephalopods

Class Cephalopoda (“head-foot”): Nautilus, squid, octopus, cuttlefish

Cephalopods are unique among mollusks, and even within the animal kingdom. They are lauded for their large brains and complex behaviors and are considered the most intelligent invertebrates. Among 800 species in 45 families, all are carnivorous and live in marine ecosystems. They all have a set of arms or tentacles, but only the nautilus retains an exterior chambered shell. Many species have chromatophores, which allow them to change color for defense, camouflage, or courting. They range from the size of a fingernail to just longer than a city bus (the mysterious giant squid).

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Thousands of octopuses nurture their eggs in hydrothermal vent communities by utilizing warmth for energy-efficient development.

Introduction

Deep off central California, in the chilling abyss of the ocean, thousands of octopus (Muusoctopus robustus) migrate to the warmth of hydrothermal springs near an extinct volcano to mate, nest, and die. This forms the largest known aggregation of octopus on Earth, a unique ecosystem nicknamed the “Octopus Garden,” found at depths ranging from 3175 to 3300 meters.

The Strategy

These octopuses are remarkable for their migratory behavior to specific thermal springs, located at the Davidson Seamount off Central California. Their environment is characterized by cold dark waters, where the temperature typically slows down metabolic processes. The hydrothermal springs present a unique microenvironment, providing warmth that raises metabolic rates, speeds embryonic development, and enhances reproductive success.

M. robustus finds suitable nesting sites on rocky outcrops near warm springs within the abyssal landscape. These rocky surfaces, kept clear of fine sediments by currents and hydrothermal flows, offer an ideal location for egg attachment.

Warmth from the hydrothermal springs plays a vital role in the biology and ecology of these abyssal animals. The elevated temperature at the springs shortens the brood times for female octopuses to approximately 1.8 years, far faster than expected for abyssal octopods. This increase in temperature, compared to the surrounding cold deep-sea habitat, hastens the pace of embryogenesis and shortens the duration of incubation. The warmth not only affects the health and survival of developing embryos but also helps in mate finding, reducing the “loneliness” effects observed in sparse populations. Beyond their direct influence, these springs indirectly boost the carbon budget for the local biological community, as the octopuses, once deceased, provide an organic carbon pool to support other life forms.

This unique behavioral ensures reproductive success for the octopuses, allowing them to thrive in otherwise inhospitable deep-sea environments. By choosing to breed in localized warm spots, they maximize their fitness, providing a suitable environment for the healthy development of eggs and hatchlings.

The Potential

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:

Utilizing Geothermal Heat: Just as octopuses use hydrothermal vents to incubate their eggs, we can use geothermal energy to heat our homes and other buildings. This is a renewable resource that takes advantage of the Earth’s internal heat.

Conservation and Sustainable Practices:

Creating Protected Marine Zones: Understanding the critical role hydrothermal vents play in the lifecycle of the deep-sea octopus could lead to more focused conservation efforts. Creating protected zones around these areas may preserve not only octopuses but entire ecosystems.
Thermal Management in Agriculture: Studying how octopuses utilize heat for breeding could inspire innovative ways to manage heat in agricultural settings, optimizing energy use and improving the sustainability of food production.

Healthcare and Wellness:

Innovations in Incubation Technology: The way octopuses utilize warmth for the growth of their eggs can be a model for innovations in human incubation technologies, possibly leading to more efficient and natural methods for caring for premature infants.

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Last Updated August 31, 2023

References

“Nesting in localized deep-sea warm spots may be common for local M. robustus populations, but it is unclear whether this pattern is consistent across the metapopulation. Is M. robustus an obligate hydrothermal spring nester? In addition to the Octopus Garden, thousands of M. robustus brooding under very similar conditions were found at hydrothermal springs (“Octocone”) only 8 km northeast of the Octopus Garden [Fig. 1 (25)]. Nesting females have also been observed along the flanks of hydrothermal vents, though no temperature measurements were performed (46). We found no reports of M. robustus brooding in areas distant from deep-sea heat sources and could not find individuals nesting in ambient waters at the Octopus Garden.”

Journal article

Abyssal hydrothermal springs—Cryptic incubators for brooding octopus

Science Advances | August 23, 2023 | James P. Barry, et al

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