Seeps are just one of the many diverse habitats that together form the ocean ecosystem. However, they are not the only habitats that add to the diversity of the deep sea. Sponges, like this one hanging from a near-vertical side of a submarine canyon, also add to the diversity, beauty, and opportunities for discovery in the deep.
Sponge
Image courtesy of Oregon State University, NOAA OER, NOAA OCNMS, Ocean Exploration Trust, NA-121. Download larger version (jpg, 3.5 MB).

Seeps are just one of the many diverse habitats that together form the ocean ecosystem. However, they are not the only habitats that add to the diversity of the deep sea. Sponges, like this one hanging from a near-vertical side of a submarine canyon, also add to the diversity, beauty, and opportunities for discovery in the deep.

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