Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities

Report

Title: Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities

Publication Date:

March 1, 2024

Document Number:

OCS Study BOEM 2024-012

Pages:

639

Place Published:

Sterling, United States

Affiliation

TDI-Brooks International

Sponsoring Organization:

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Receptor:

Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality

Document Access

Website:

External Link

Attachment:

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Citation

Cordes, E.; Demopoulos, A.; Bernard, B.; Brooke, S.; Brooks, J.; Joye, S.; Miksis-Olds, J.; Quattrini, A.; Sutton, T.; Wolff, G.; Anthony, L.; Aunins, A.; Beckmann, S.; Blank, N.; Bourque, J.; Bowman, R.; Carrick, J.; Chaytor, J.; Choi, H.; Chung, H.; Davenport, E.; Davies, D.; DeLeo, D.; Engleman, A.; Gasboro, R.; Gomez, C.; Gori, A.; Hallaj, A.; Hunter, K.; Hürzeler, I.; Kellogg, C.; Lunden, J.; Marinelli, Z.; McClain-Counts, J.; McIver, T.; Mienis, F.; Morrison, C.; Nizinski, M.; Prouty, N.; Roads, A.; Sahy, D.; Saso, E.; Schiff, J.; Sei, M.; Shull, H.; Sogluizzo, A.; Warren, J.; Weinnig, A.; Wilford, D.; Zhuang, G. (2024). Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities (Report No. OCS Study BOEM 2024-012). Report by TDI-Brooks International. Report for Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

@techreport{Cordes-2024-2080403,
author = {Cordes, E and Demopoulos, A and Bernard, B and Brooke, S and Brooks, J and Joye, S and Miksis-Olds, J and Quattrini, A and Sutton, T and Wolff, G and Anthony, L and Aunins, A and Beckmann, S and Blank, N and Bourque, J and Bowman, R and Carrick, J and Chaytor, J and Choi, H and Chung, H and Davenport, E and Davies, D and DeLeo, D and Engleman, A and Gasboro, R and Gomez, C and Gori, A and Hallaj, A and Hunter, K and Hürzeler, I and Kellogg, C and Lunden, J and Marinelli, Z and McClain-Counts, J and McIver, T and Mienis, F and Morrison, C and Nizinski, M and Prouty, N and Roads, A and Sahy, D and Saso, E and Schiff, J and Sei, M and Shull, H and Sogluizzo, A and Warren, J and Weinnig, A and Wilford, D and Zhuang, G},
title = {Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities},
institution = {TDI-Brooks International},
year = {2024},
month = {mar},
number = {OCS Study BOEM 2024-012},
address = {Sterling, United States},
url = {https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-I-e005bf4ed22dde4a8bb3dbc90dbe6c3b/pdf/GOVPUB-I-e005bf4ed22dde4a8bb3dbc90dbe6c3b.pdf},
keywords = {Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality},
}

Export Citation to BibTex

TY - RPRT
TI - Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities
AU - Cordes, E
AU - Demopoulos, A
AU - Bernard, B
AU - Brooke, S
AU - Brooks, J
AU - Joye, S
AU - Miksis-Olds, J
AU - Quattrini, A
AU - Sutton, T
AU - Wolff, G
AU - Anthony, L
AU - Aunins, A
AU - Beckmann, S
AU - Blank, N
AU - Bourque, J
AU - Bowman, R
AU - Carrick, J
AU - Chaytor, J
AU - Choi, H
AU - Chung, H
AU - Davenport, E
AU - Davies, D
AU - DeLeo, D
AU - Engleman, A
AU - Gasboro, R
AU - Gomez, C
AU - Gori, A
AU - Hallaj, A
AU - Hunter, K
AU - Hürzeler, I
AU - Kellogg, C
AU - Lunden, J
AU - Marinelli, Z
AU - McClain-Counts, J
AU - McIver, T
AU - Mienis, F
AU - Morrison, C
AU - Nizinski, M
AU - Prouty, N
AU - Roads, A
AU - Sahy, D
AU - Saso, E
AU - Schiff, J
AU - Sei, M
AU - Shull, H
AU - Sogluizzo, A
AU - Warren, J
AU - Weinnig, A
AU - Wilford, D
AU - Zhuang, G
AB - This document represents the final report for Contract M17PC00009, issued by the US Department of theInterior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), titled “Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II:Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon,and Seep Communities.” This report is the final deliverable of BOEM Contract M17PC00009, conductedin partnership with the US Geological Survey (USGS). This project effort is now called Deep SEARCH.The study is a five-year, collaborative scientific research program focused on the outer continental shelf(OCS) between Virginia and Georgia. We surveyed that region’s deep-sea coral, cold-seep, and canyoncommunities as habitats of focus. Our overarching goal was to improve understanding of the functionalrole of these three habitat types in order to advance scientific knowledge and inform future managementdecisions. The intended application of the new science was to develop better predictive capacities for thecommunity types encountered.Here, we present our site selection process; results from five directly supported cruises; detailed sitedescriptions of the geological, physical, chemical, and biological conditions encountered; and the resultsfrom six additional cruises conducted through our collaborations with the Atlantic Deep Sea EcosystemObservatory Network (ADEON) project and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER). The research results, analyses, and findingsinclude the oceanographic, geological, and geochemical setting of canyons, seeps, and coralenvironments; deep-sea soundscapes; community structure and trophic function from microbes to fishes;population connectivity; life history of selected species; habitat suitability modeling deep-sea corals andseeps; and our educational outreach to the public. Through this study, we have filled major data gaps for poorly known deepwater ecosystems, aiding therefinement of regional management strategies. Our improved understanding of the habitats andcommunities in offshore areas of the Atlantic Large Marine Ecosystem augments the capacity to predictthe distribution of sensitive areas concerning the potential development of energy and marine mineralsmanaged by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
CY - Sterling, United States
DA - 2024/03//
PY - 2024
SP - 639
PB - TDI-Brooks International
SN - OCS Study BOEM 2024-012
UR - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-I-e005bf4ed22dde4a8bb3dbc90dbe6c3b/pdf/GOVPUB-I-e005bf4ed22dde4a8bb3dbc90dbe6c3b.pdf
LA - English
KW - Ecosystem Processes
KW - Fish
KW - Demersal Fish
KW - Pelagic Fish
KW - Invertebrates
KW - Physical Environment
KW - Sediment Transport
KW - Water Quality
ER -

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Abstract

This document represents the final report for Contract M17PC00009, issued by the US Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), titled “Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II:
Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon,
and Seep Communities.” This report is the final deliverable of BOEM Contract M17PC00009, conducted
in partnership with the US Geological Survey (USGS). This project effort is now called Deep SEARCH.
The study is a five-year, collaborative scientific research program focused on the outer continental shelf
(OCS) between Virginia and Georgia. We surveyed that region’s deep-sea coral, cold-seep, and canyon
communities as habitats of focus. Our overarching goal was to improve understanding of the functional
role of these three habitat types in order to advance scientific knowledge and inform future management
decisions. The intended application of the new science was to develop better predictive capacities for the
community types encountered.

Here, we present our site selection process; results from five directly supported cruises; detailed site
descriptions of the geological, physical, chemical, and biological conditions encountered; and the results
from six additional cruises conducted through our collaborations with the Atlantic Deep Sea Ecosystem
Observatory Network (ADEON) project and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER). The research results, analyses, and findings
include the oceanographic, geological, and geochemical setting of canyons, seeps, and coral
environments; deep-sea soundscapes; community structure and trophic function from microbes to fishes;
population connectivity; life history of selected species; habitat suitability modeling deep-sea corals and
seeps; and our educational outreach to the public.

Through this study, we have filled major data gaps for poorly known deepwater ecosystems, aiding the
refinement of regional management strategies. Our improved understanding of the habitats and
communities in offshore areas of the Atlantic Large Marine Ecosystem augments the capacity to predict
the distribution of sensitive areas concerning the potential development of energy and marine minerals
managed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.