Densities of galatheid crabs and serpulid worms begin to increase as we cross through terrain filled with lava pillows, suggesting we are approaching a new vent site. Hydrothermal vents expel large amounts of energy and chemicals that provide nourishments for chemosynthetic communities. A higher density of crabs, worms, anemones, microbes and fish can be seen on this patch of seafloor near a vent site than on the seafloor farther away. Image courtesy of UCSB, Univ. S. Carolina, NOAA, WHOI.
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GalAPAGoS: Where Ridge Meets Hotspot
GalAPAGoS: Where Ridge Meets Hotspot - Dec 29 Log
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