Animal and Microbial Communities at Axial
Egress of nutrient-rich, warm diffuse flow fluids from the seafloor and from hydrothermal vents at Axial Seamount support dense and divers communities of tube worms (red plumes), limpets and microbes. Thick biofilms of white, filamentous bacteria commonly coat the outer casings of tube worms. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, V13.
June 5, 2013