Hydrothermal sponge on an underwater volcanic vent. This sponge is growing on or near a volcanic vent on the seabed. The heat and minerals provide an

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Hydrothermal sponge on an underwater volcanic vent. This sponge is growing on or near a volcanic vent on the seabed. The heat and minerals provide an energy source that supports an ecology of organisms adapted to these conditions, including this sponge. Photographed in the Caribbean in 2010, using the remotely controlled HyBIS (Hydraulic Benthic Interactive Sampler) submersible. This submersible was operated by researchers from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK.

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Size: 3378px × 2598px
Photo credit: © B. MURTON/SOUTHAMPTON OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1, 2010, 21st, animal, atlantic, benthic, biological, biology, black, caribbean, century, fauna, floor, geological, geology, high, hot, hy-bis, hybis, hydraulic, hydrothermal, interactive, invertebrate, marine, nature, ocean, oceanography, porifera, poriferan, pressure, sampler, seabed, single, smoker, southampton, sponge, submersible, temperature, underwater, vent, volcanic, water, wildlife, zoological, zoology