Undersea Mountain Photos: Brittlestar Swarm, More Found

Biodiversity Refuge

A crowded assemblage of deep-sea sponges and corals—including a large orange primnoid sea fan—are seen on the Macquarie Ridge seamount in 2008.

CenSeam researchers have determined that seamounts might serve as sanctuaries for marine life during periods of extreme environmental events, such as climate change-induced ocean acidification.

"In the future, seamounts might act as repositories of biodiversity," CenSeam's Consalvey said.

"They're undersea mountains that stick up from a flatter terrain, so they offer a variety of different depths. So if you've got a change of conditions, animals can find refuge up or down their slopes."

(See related pictures: "Vast New Ocean Refuge Home to Huge Crab, Coral.")

Published October 1, 2010