Fig. 1. Experimental set-up in the IPOCAMP (Incubateur Pressurisé pour l'Observation et la Culture d'Animaux Marins Profonds) pressure vessel for heat-exposure experiments. (A) The pressure vessel contains three cages (only one is represented here). Each cage is a PVC cylinder that is closed at the top with an inclined transparent Plexiglas lid (about 9 cm diameter; 15 cm at the highest point). Ventilation holes are located at the top and bottom of each cage, with Pt-100 probes that are positioned in the water flow, allowing direct reading of the upstream (t1) and downstream (t2) temperatures. Connections in the lid of the pressure vessel are terminated by sapphire windows. By inserting an endoscope into the appropriate connection, the content of one of the cages may be observed. Illumination is achieved through the other connections by means of optical fiber light-guides. Large arrows indicate the inlet and outlet of circulating seawater, which is forced through the cage ventilation holes. The internal diameter of the pressure vessel is 20 cm, while its height is approximately 60 cm. (B) Video-view of a nylon-mesh cage containing five Rimicaris exoculata specimens, maintained in the IPOCAMP at in situ pressure (230x10⁵ Pa) and a temperature of 15°C. The white V-shaped ocular plates (`eyes') of the shrimps are clearly visible for two individuals that are resting on the bottom of the cage. Three other specimens (on the left of the image) are resting on the vertical wall at the top of the cage. Diameter of cage bottom = 9 cm, approximate length of shrimps = 3–6 cm.

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