Steps proposed to resolve potential research conflicts at deep‐sea hydrothermal vents

Biological researchers studying deep-sea hydrothermal vents occasionally find themselves at odds with their colleagues. The main issue is the incompatibility of two types of investigations—some are aimed at understanding how vent systems function by monitoring them in an undisturbed state and others study processes by manipulating the system or collecting parts of it, or both. The research community could resolve this conflict, we believe, by embracing the concept of deep-sea hydrothermal vent reserves and by adopting a fair and equitable process for establishing reserves and disseminating information about them. At the same time those who need to manipulate the system or collect specimens could work at nearby sites and share data and samples.