Cold seep communities in Monterey Bay, California, were studied to understand the organisms living there and their environment. Chemoautotrophic bacteria and vesicomyid clams dominate these communities. Other creatures like crabs, worms, and snails were also found. The clams mainly get their food from sulfur-oxidizing chemosynthesis. Different seep sites had varying levels of sulfide and methane in the water. The researchers found that the seepage at these sites comes from different sources like sulfide-rich fluids in rock formations or dewatering of sediments due to tectonic forces.