CHARACTERIZATION OF MESOPHOTIC CORAL/SPONGE HABITATS AND FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN THE REGIONS OF PULLEY RIDGE AND TORTUGAS FROM ROV DIVES DURING R/V WALTON SMITH CRUISES OF 2012 TO 2015.

Authors

John K. Reed, Florida Atlantic University
Stephanie Farrington, Florida Atlantic University
Andrew David, NOAA/NMFS/Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
Stacey Harter, NOAA/NMFS/Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
Heather Moe, NOAA/NMFS/Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
Lance Horn, University of North Carolina
Glenn Taylor, University of North Carolina
Jason White, University of North Carolina
Joshua Voss, Florida Atlantic University
Dennis M. Hanisak, Florida Atlantic University
Maria Cristina Diaz, Florida Atlantic University
Shirley A. Pomponi, Florida Atlantic University

Author Type

Faculty

Document Type

Report

Abstract

This report summarizes the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys during four cruises from 2012 to 2015 which characterizes the mesophotic coral reef ecosystems at Pulley Ridge and Tortugas. This research is part of a grant funded by the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science award NA11NOS4780045: “Connectivity of the Pulley Ridge - South Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem”. The University of Miami ship R/V Walton Smith was used along with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) Super Phantom ROV and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) Mohawk ROV. The cruises were a collaboration of the University of Miami, HBOI-CIOERT, NOAA Fisheries, and the UNCW-CIOERT Undersea Vehicles Program. This project documents and characterizes the mesophotic benthic habitat, benthic macrobiota, and fish populations within and adjacent to Pulley Ridge Habitat Area of Particular Concern (PR HAPC) and at sites adjacent to, but outside, of the North and South Tortugas Ecological Reserves (TERs), and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS).

Publication Date

4-26-2017

Comments

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Technical Report Number 178.

Recommended Citation

Citation: Reed J.K., S. Farrington, A. David, S. Harter, H. Moe, L. Horn, G. Taylor, J. White, J. Voss, S. Pomponi, D. Hanisak. 2017. Characterization of Mesophotic Coral/Sponge Habitats and Fish Assemblages in the Regions of Pulley Ridge and Tortugas from ROV Dives during R/V Walton Smith Cruises of 2012 to 2015. NOAA CIOERT Cruise Report. Submitted to NOAANOS-NCCOS, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. 76 pp. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Technical Report Number 178.