Living on the Edge

Living on the Edge. . , At first glance, geyser basins may appear to be stark and lifeless places. Amazingly, they team with both microscopic and visible life year-round. Even the hottest thermal features contain tiny microbes that can live in one of earth’s most extreme environments. Runoff channels from geysers and hot springs also sustain a variety of life. These unique ecosystems were only recently discovered and scientists are learning more about them each year., Predators, like this wolf spider, often hunt flies and other insects that feed on the bacteria and algae of thermal mats., Thermal features also play a critical role in the winter survival of Yellowstone’s larger mammals, like the bison and elk. The warmer ground temperatures melt the snow making foraging for grasses and other vegetation much easier.