Document Type
Report
Abstract
The primary focus of the Mesophotic Reef Project is to advance NOAA OER goals while complementing the management objectives of NOAA’s Mesophotic Reef Ecosystems program, NOAA’s Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, NOAA’s Sanctuaries Program, NOAA Fisheries, and Regional Fishery Management Councils (Gulf of Mexico, GOM). A major goal of the CIOERT project is to characterize mesophotic and deepwater reef ecosystems across a variety of sites in the GOM off the west Florida shelf, targeting northern Pulley Ridge and adjacent shelf-edge banks and hard bottom habitat that are prospective Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), and prospective MPA sites. This will provide a comprehensive examination of mesophotic communities in this region of the GOM within the jurisdiction of the GOM Council. We will also continue analyses on connectivity of the fauna within the vertical scale from shallow to deep reef ecosystems and horizontally among reef systems which will be used to supplement and add value to our 5-year NOAA-NOA-NCCOS Grant (“Understanding Coral Ecosystem Connectivity in the Gulf of Mexico-Pulley Ridge to the Florida Keys”).
Publication Date
2015
Recommended Citation
Reed, John K.; Farrington, Stephanie; Pomponi, Shirley A.; Price, Melissa; and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, "PRELIMINARY CRUISE REPORT. 2015 HBOI-FAU CRUISE. MESOPHOTIC AND DEEPWATER REEF ECOSYSTEMS- ROV/AUV SURVEYS OF SW FLORIDA SHELF INCLUDING NORTHERN PULLEY RIDGE AND HOWELL HOOK REGIONS. MAY 7-20, 2015." (2015). Faculty Scholarship. 96.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/faculty_papers/96
Comments
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Technical Report Number 162.