Towering Underwater Volcanic Peaks
In Towering Underwater Volcanic Peaks, narrator David Attenborough explores the underwater volcanoes that rise nearly 30,000 feet (9,000 meters) from the seafloor, reaching close to the ocean's surface. These towering peaks create nutrient-rich environments that support an abundance of marine life. Ocean currents push nutrients toward the surface, fueling plankton blooms that attract fish and other sea creatures. A Mola mola (ocean sunfish) visits one of these seamounts to be cleaned by reef fish, which remove parasites from its skin. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: Why do marine animals gather around underwater volcanic peaks?
A: The peaks bring nutrients to the surface, which support plankton growth and attract fish.
Q: What role do reef fish play in the ecosystem of a seamount?
A: They help clean larger fish by eating parasites from their skin.
Q: Why does the Mola mola come near the surface?
A: It warms up in the sunlit waters before returning to colder, deeper areas.
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