Why Do Seamounts Form?

Near subduction zones, plates collide, forcing ocean crust down toward Earth's hot interior, where this crustal material melts, forming magma that rises buoyantly back to the surface and erupts to create volcanoes and seamounts.

What are seamounts caused by?

Near subduction zones, plates collide, forcing ocean crust down toward Earth's hot interior, where this crustal material melts, forming magma that rises buoyantly back to the surface and erupts to create volcanoes and seamounts.

Why seamounts as part of marine habitat tend to a productive fish habitat?

Critical Habitat

Seamounts play a key role in ocean environments by providing habitats for fishes and suspension feeders. The enhanced upwelling combined with the potential for a reef environment in very shallow seamounts make large seamounts sites of high primary productivity.