[TML] Waterworld Ecology

[royce at efn.org]

Hi, All,
1. I am neither an oceanographer nor a marine biologist.  I am under the
impression that coastal waters have a greater of abundance of life than do
mid-ocean waters do to the greater access to, well, mud, basically.  Am I
correct?
   If so, then what implications does this hold for waterworlds, if any? 
Would a world ocean that is deep all over have less life than would a
world ocean with shallow regions (say, submerged continents)?
   How might life have evolved differently on Earth if there'd been enough
water to cover all but the high mountain ranges?
2. Also, what about storms?  How big might hurricanes get?  Could
permanent hurricanes develop?
3. VENUS, as in the Golden Age of S/F, when it was veiled in mystery.  If
I include a Golden Age Venus in my subsector (call it Aphrodite), what
might a continuously cloud-covered habitable world be like?
   Thanks ahead of time for any thoughts on these vitally important
galactic issues.
   Sincerely,
Asher