Importance of Deep-sea Corals

From NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research:

Deep-sea corals provide habitat for a variety of organisms. Here a brittle star has taken up residence on an octocoral (pink) that is being overgrown by a zooanthid (yellow).

Seen during the Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawai’i 2015 expedition. Learn more about the expedition here: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1504/welcome.html