What maximum density of Yeti Crabs has been observed packed per square meter near favorable vent flows?
Answer
700 crabs
The survival strategy of the Yeti Crab necessitates clustering tightly around the limited thermal zones provided by active hydrothermal vents, where the necessary chemical plumes are optimally concentrated. Scientists observing these hotspots have documented incredibly high densities of these crustaceans. In the most favorable flow areas, population counts reached as high as 700 crabs packed into a single square meter. This extreme clustering illustrates both their reliance on a consistent, localized energy source and the inherent fragility of their existence, as any disruption to the vent flow could lead to the immediate demise of such a concentrated community.
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