Image description: A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) diver conducts a coral reef survey to assess overall health. Coral reefs are extremely sensitive environments that have special temperature, salinity, light, oxygen, and nutrient needs. If environmental conditions shift or worsen from pollution or other disruption, the health of a coral reef ecosystem can suffer.

Photo by Charles Lobue, EPA

Image description: The first tubeworms found in the Atlantic Ocean were discovered in August by researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration using remotely operated submarines.

Tubeworms are unlike most other forms of life on Earth, which rely on energy from the sun. Instead, these creatures are chemosynthetic, getting their energy from chemicals that rise in the hot water of hydrothermal vents in the ocean.

Photo by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration