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The relationships between tectonic processes, magmatism, and hydrothermal venting along ∼600 km of the slow-spreading Mariana back-arc between 12.7°N and 18.3°N reveal a number of similarities and differences compared to slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges. Analysis of the volcanic geomorphology and structure highlights the complexity of the back-arc spreading center. Here, ridge segmentation is controlled by large-scale basement structures that appear to predate back-arc rifting.

2017
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Published research, Journal article
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U.S. Pacific Islands
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Coelenterata; Antipathidae; Aphanipathidae; deep-sea coral; mesophotic coral ecosystem; Myriopathidae

The black coral fauna of Bermudan waters is poorly known, in large part due to the logistical challenges of surveying deep-water (>50 m) environments where most species occur. In 2016, the Nekton Expedition sought to survey the deep-water biodiversity around Bermuda using manned submersibles and mixed-gas technical SCUBA. A total of 28 black coral specimens were collected, and these were examined based on skeletal spine morphology, polyp morphology, colony branching pattern and in situ photographs. 

2017
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Published research, Journal article, Fully or partially Program-funded
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Southeast (South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/U.S. Caribbean)
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Antipatharia, Antipathidae, Aphanipathidae

Colonies of the holaxonian Calcigorgia spiculifera were tagged beginning in 1999 at three sites in Chatham Strait, Southeast Alaska, using scuba and their growth measured annually for up to 5 years. Colonies were video recorded, and computer image analysis tools provided calibration of video images for measuring the length of several branches. 

2017
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Published research, Journal article
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Alaska
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Calcigorgia spiculifera

deep-sea corals; paleoclimate; oxygen isotope; clumped isotope; boron isotope; SIMS; vital effect

Recent work demonstrates that bamboo coral growth temperature, averaged over its entire lifespan, can be derived from linear correlations in its carbon and oxygen isotope composition (δ13C, δ18O) when the apparent equilibrium fractionations for a coral's growth rate and calcifying pH are used. Building on this method, this study applies it to coeval coral skeleton to assess the possibility of extracting paleoceanographic timeseries from bamboo coral skeletons.

2017
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Published research, Journal article
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Alaska
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Keratoisis, Isidella

Deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems are widespread throughout most of Alaska's marine waters, and are associated with many different species of fishes and invertebrates. These ecosystems are vulnerable to the effects of commercial fishing activities and climate change. We compared four commonly used species distribution models (general linear models, generalized additive models, boosted regression trees and random forest models) and an ensemble model to predict the presence or absence and abundance of six groups of benthic invertebrate taxa in the Gulf of Alaska.

2017
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Published research, Journal article, Fully or partially Program-funded
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Alaska
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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.

2017
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Published research, Journal article, Fully or partially Program-funded
,
Alaska
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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. 

2017
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Published research, Journal article
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Alaska
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*Journal subscription required to access

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.

2017
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Published research, Journal article
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Alaska
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Porifera, Heteroscleromorpha, Suberitida

*Journal subscription required to access

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. 

2017
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Published research, Journal article
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Alaska
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Porifera, Calcarea

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. 

2017
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Reports, Technical memorandum
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Southeast (South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/U.S. Caribbean)
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