Hydrocarbon seep in the Gulf of Mexico (IMAGE)

Marine Biological Laboratory

Hydrocarbon seep in the Gulf of Mexico

Caption

Hydrocarbon seep in the southern Gulf of Mexico emitting a viscous petroleum, much like asphalt. Hydrocarbons serve as an energy source for microbes and in turn, microbial biomass is a food source for a diverse community of organisms including tube worms, mussels, crabs and shrimp.

Credit

Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM), University of Bremen

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