Close-up view of a live chemosynthetic mussel bed surrounded by sediment-covered shells from 1,419 meters depth in Veatch Canyon on the U.S. continental margin. Gastropods could be seen in high abundances on the live mussel shells and white microbial material (top center of image) was observed within and around the seep site.
Chemosynthetic Mussel Bed
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2013 ROV Shakedown and Field Trials in the U.S. Atlantic Canyons.
Close-up view of a live chemosynthetic mussel bed surrounded by sediment-covered shells from 1,419 meters depth in Veatch Canyon on the U.S. continental margin. Gastropods could be seen in high abundances on the live mussel shells and white microbial material (top center of image) was observed within and around the seep site. Download larger version.
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