December 21, 2020: Snails and Tubeworms
Image courtesy of Ocean Exploration Trust - Cruise NA095. Download larger version (jpg, 3.9 MB).
The ocean has been an economic resource and critical component of society throughout human history, and yet it is also an area that faces increased use and economic growth. The decision to use a resource involves a combination of technology, economics, and societal will. Methane seeps are no different, and exploration and discovery of them will inform management decisions as we decide the future economy of the deep ocean.
For example, seeps are home to many animals, increasing biodiversity in the deep by creating food from chemical energy and structure for deep-sea animals to lay their eggs on. This image shows a mass of snails (gastropods called Neptunea) and their egg masses (the yellow towers) using clumps of tubeworms at a seep as a place to anchor them in the otherwise soft sediment of the deep.
From: Sustainable Use of Ocean Resources: Blue Economy of Seeps.