Densities of galatheid crabs and serpulid worms begin to increase as we cross through terrain filled with lava pillows.

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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