How is it possible that the same lifeforms live around different 'black smokers' far apart from eachother?

Question

Black smokers are like little vulcanoes on the ocean bottom. Around them live very specific bacteria, plants and animals. These smokers are hot and rich of sulfer. The life has to stay close, else it dies. So, how then is it possible that on the next smoker live the same plants and animals? They can't cross the distance...

Answer 1

I have wondered this same thing.  My somewhat-educated idea is that most life forms there have a dormant larval stage that allows them to float to another vent area in a dormant state.  We see lots of pictures of tube worms with crabs and shrimp around.  I have never read anything about whether these are all of the same species at different locations.   My guess is that we don't know enough about the difference of the far away vents and if research is available we would find that these could be classified as different species, or at least distinct from other vents.