Courtesy of Gary Cranitch.
Smithsonian scientist Seabird McKeon searches for coral guard-crabs on a coral reef, home to as many as one-quarter of all ocean species. In September 2014, McKeon and colleague Jenna Moore published new research highlighting the role of diversity in the healthy functioning of coral reef ecosystems, showing that guard-crab species and size classes offer different kinds of effective protection against various threats to coral reefs. (Photo courtesy of Gary Cranitch)
