Publications

Spatial management of vulnerable benthic ecosystem components such as deep-sea corals and sponges requires adequate maps of their distribution. These maps are often based on statistical models of survey data. The objective of this project was to validate the predictions of existing presence or absence and abundance models of deep-sea corals and sponges in the Aleutian Islands that were based on bottom trawl survey data.

In 2014, at the request of the Council, the National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center conducted a strip-transect survey along the Eastern Bering Sea slope to validate the results of a model predicting the occurrence of deep-sea coral habitat. More than 250,000 photos were analyzed to estimate coral, sponge, and sea whip abundance, distribution, height, and vulnerability to anthropogenic damage. The results of the survey confirmed that coral habitat and occurrence was concentrated around Pribilof Canyon and the adjacent slope. 

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Porifera, Suberitida, Suberitidae, Plicatellopsis, epibiontic on Hyas coarctatus, Halichondriidae, Spongosorites, Bering Sea, Alaska

Two new species, Plicatellopsis borealis and Spongosorites beringensis, from the Bering Sea are described; both belong to genera previously not reported from the area.

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Porifera, Trichogypsia alaskensis, new species, history of genus and family, Gulf of Alaska

A new species of Trichogypsiidae is described and compared to its congeners. Trichogypsia alaskensis n. sp. represents the fifth species of the family and with this record all three genera of the family are now represented in the North Pacific Ocean. Calcarea are rare in the Gulf of Alaska but with this new record the number of confirmed species rises from two to three. 

coral reef ecology; planning; research; sponges

In September 2016, the science team for the Southeast Deep Coral Initiative met in Charleston, South Carolina to refine priorities of the initiative, and build the framework for a science plan. The purpose of this science plan is to outline a general strategy for the execution and completion of the most important research activities conducted under the Southeast Deep Coral Initiative. 

deep-sea fishes; deep sea corals; habitat; sponges; underwater photography

The 2012 and 2014 underwater camera surveys of the Aleutian Islands conducted by NOAA Fisheries were the first comprehensive underwater camera surveys of corals and sponges in the Aleutian Islands. Survey results presented in this report include fish and crab composition and density, coral, sponge, sea pens, and sea whip density and height, and substrate composition for each transect. 

fishes; fish populations; fish surveys; habitat; underwater photography

Two sites were selected off of Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska and 40 underwater camera transects were deployed to assess benthic habitat and fish density. The data extracted from the images included substrate classifications as well as coral, sponge, and fish counts and identification.

This report presents the results of 15 projects conducted using Program funds from 2012–2015.

This report updates information on deep‐sea coral ecosystems and management efforts to protect them over the last decade, and presents a first summary of information on U.S. deep‐sea sponge ecosystems.

In the Mariana convergent margin, large arc volcanoes disappear south of Guam even though the Pacific plate continues to subduct and instead, small cones scatter on the seafloor. These small cones could form either due to decompression melting accompanying back-arc extension or flux melting, as expected for arc volcanoes, or as a result of both processes. Here, we report the major, trace, and volatile element compositions, as well as the oxidation state of Fe, in recently dredged, fresh pillow lavas from the Fina Nagu volcanic chain, an unusual alignment of small, closely spaced submarine calderas and cones southwest of Guam.