In order to understand the prevailing conditions for life in cold seeps the following questions are addressed with emphasis on the meiofauna:1. What is driving the patchiness at seeps2. What is the trophic position of the meiofauna?3. How does endobenthic organisms thrive in these extreme conditions?4. What is the origin of seep-meiofauna species? The fauna from different locations worldwide is investigated.