Abstract:

EV Nautilus cruise NA043: Ecosystems Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf of Mexico (ECOGIG) consortia cruise to monitor corals around Macondo and sample corals, mussels and sediments. Push cores using a ROV were obtained from 7 sites to assay infauna diversity. We made collections from a total 44 live corals using the ROV at 4 sites for analyses of microbial and small eukaryotic associates. Mussels were collected at four sites for symbiont phylogentic and physiological analyses. Between 40 and 80 individual coral colony images from each of 6 deep water coral sites.

Suggested Citation:

Iliana Baums, Chuck Fisher. 2016. Nautilus NA043: Sample records of corals and mussels collected around Macondo, Gulf of Mexico - June 22 - July 4, 2014. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N74J0C2M

Purpose:

1) We revisited 6 known deep water coral sites in the Gulf to re-image corals with the ROV and use the data to follow the outcome of impact (or lack of impact) on the corals from the Deep Water Horizon Disaster. At each of these sites between 40 – 80 specific individual coral colonies were revisited and imaged. New corals were discovered at one new site near Macondo and imaged for the first time. Physical markers on the sea floor were used to aid in locating each coral and calibration of navigation to previous visits was excellent. 2) We obtained push cores using the ROV on every dive except the last three. 3) Made collections from a total 44 live corals using the ROV at 4 sites for analyses of microbial and small eukaryotic associates. 4) We collected mussels at four sites for symbiont phylogentic and physiological analyses 5) We deployed Ian’s VTLC Camera at GC 600

Data Parameters and Units:

Images of Deep Water corals, push cores, coral samples, and mussels samples. Cruise ID; Dive #; Sample #; Date (MM/DD/YYYY); Time (UTC); Depth (m); Longitude (degree minutes); Latitude (degree minutes); Sample type; Location; Description; Recipient images-coral_species136-0021.xlsx: collection site (MC344, MC297, MC294, MC258, MC036, DC673, AT357); image file name; sample number = reef number and coral number; lowest possible taxonomic identification Site Latitude (decimal degrees) Longitude (decimal degrees) Depth (m) MC294 28.6722 -88.47653 1371m MC297 28.68231 -88.34487 1582m AT357 27.58651 -89.70428 1050m MC344 28.63349 -88.16953 1851m MC036 28.93472 -8820342 1090m MC258 28.71864 -88.11170 1698m DC673 28.31278 -87.30784 2387m GC600 27.36399 -90.56338 1215m (Camera Deployment Location)

Publications:

Girard, F., Fu, B., & Fisher, C. (2016). Mutualistic symbiosis with ophiuroids limited the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea octocorals. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 549, 89–98. doi:10.3354/meps11697

Fisher, C., Montagna, P., & Sutton, T. (2016). How Did the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Impact Deep-Sea Ecosystems? Oceanography, 29(3), 182–195. doi:10.5670/oceanog.2016.82

Girard, F., Shea, K., & Fisher, C. R. (2018). Projecting the recovery of a long-lived deep-sea coral species after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill using state-structured models. Journal of Applied Ecology. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13141

Girard, F., & Fisher, C. R. (2018). Long-term impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea corals detected after seven years of monitoring. Biological Conservation, 225, 117–127. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.06.028

Girard, F., Cruz, R., Glickman, O., Harpster, T., & Fisher, C. R. (2019). In situ growth of deep-sea octocorals after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Elem Sci Anth, 7(1), 12. doi:10.1525/elementa.349

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