Coral Ecosystem Connectivity 2014

Coral Ecosystem Connectivity 2014: From Pulley Ridge to the Florida Keys

Image and Video Gallery

This page contains photos and videos associated with the Coral Ecosystem Connectivity 2014 expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

August 25 Log

The Mohawk ROV captures a Conch live in a seagrass meadow.

August 23 Log

ISIIS can be towed behind the ship for many hours, planing up and down to sample different depths in the water column.

August 22 Log

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington remotely operated vehicle recorded over 40 hours of video on Pulley Ridge.

August 21 Log

Ambushing Lionfish sometimes use gorgonians to camouflage themselves from their prey.

August 19 Log

The Revolution fish-surveying device passively captures video of fish during a deployment on Pulley Ridge.

August 17 Log

The remotely operated vehicle’s camera captures a spawning aggregation of sea urchins on Pulley Ridge.

June 2014 Sampling Cruise

June 2014 Sampling Cruise

On June 18, 2014, eight of us set out on a 10-day research cruise aboard the M/V Spree.

Mission Summary

Mission Summary

A high diversity of plants and animals including sponges.

Green Algae

The dominant organisms of the sand plains are macroalgae, primarily chlorophytes (green algae).

Halophila

The seagrass Halophila decipens is ecologically important despite its small size.

Montastrea

A diverse coral reef dominated by the hard coral, Montastraea cavernosa.

Drones

Purchasing three of the drones like this one would cost less than a half-day charter of a helicopter with camera.

Light Traps

A GoPro camera on the support diver’s helmet records deployment of the plankton light traps.

Unique Perspectives

Unique Perspectives

The GoPro camera and the drone camera provide unique perspectives.

In-situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System

In-situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System

Images from the In-situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System (ISIIS) imaging sensor.

ISIIS

The intricacy of a ctenophore is revealed in this In-situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System (ISIIS) image.

Community Structure Team

Community Structure Team

The “Community Structure Team” documenting the ecologically important benthic community of Pulley Ridge.

Plate Coral

A large number of small colonies of plate coral Agaricia.

Agaricia

Large patches of nearly continuous plate coral Agaricia.

Habitat Area

West Pulley Ridge outside the Habitat Area of Particular Concern.

Common Corals

Examples of corals commonly found on Pulley Ridge.

Barrel Sponge

Close up of a giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta.

‘The Revolution’

‘The Revolution’

‘The Revolution’ developed by Dr. Christopher Koenig.

Silky Sharks

A pair of Silky sharks glide by a ‘Revolution’ survey device in this picture taken from video.

Red Grouper

The industrious Red Grouper establishes complex habitat on the seafloor along Pulley Ridge.

Red Grouper Hole

Red Grouper Hole

Many fish species, coral, algae and invertebrates take up residence in Red Grouper holes.

Lionfish

The invasive Lionfish has been found in increasing numbers at Red Grouper holes at Pulley Ridge.

Vermillion Snapper

Vermillion Snapper

A curtain of small Tom Tates and Vermillion Snapper finds refuge in a Red Grouper hole.

Mohawk ROV

Mohawk ROV, the newest member of the University of North Carolina at Wilminton Undersea Vehicle Program team.

ROV Launch

The remotely operated vehicle moves away from the research vessel after hitting the water.

Jason White

Jason White pilots the Mohawk remotely operated vehicle from the lab of the R/V Walton Smith.

Light Traps

Cedric Guigand deploys light traps in the evening.

Revolution Camera

Revolution Camera

Chris Malinowski prepares to drop one of the weighted Revolution cameras into the depths on Pulley Ridge.

ROV Recovery

The Mohawk 18 ROV is recovered the to the deck of the Walton Smith.

Mohawk ROV

The Mohawk 18 ROV makes its way to the stern of the F.G. Walton Smith.

Setting Sail

The Coral Ecosystem Connectivity 2014 Expedition prepares to set sail.

Eagle Rays

Eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) hang out in the tidal current in Bear Cut.

Miami Skyline

The Miami coastline from the F.G. Walton Smith as we begin our transit to Pulley Ridge.

Scamp Grouper

A scamp grouper at 320 feet off the Dry Tortugas.

Project Map

Map of project area showing Pulley Ridge, off the west coast of Florida.

SubAtlantic Mohawk 18

SubAtlantic Mohawk 18

In 2014, we will be using a new remotely operated vehicle, the SubAtlantic Mohawk 18.

Squirrelfish

A larval squirrelfish of the Family Holocentridae. Larval fish are sampled using plankton nets or light traps.

Doppler Current Profiler

Doppler Current Profiler

The University of Miami's dive team installs an acoustic Doppler current profiler.

Plate Corals

A view of the screen image from a remotely operated vehicle of plate corals on Pulley Ridge.

Research Objective

Research Objective

Understanding the value of the commercial fish species present at Pulley Ridge is a key research objective.

Lift Bag

Technical divers sending up a lift bag with the collected samples.

Species Collection

Species Collection

Target species collected from Pulley Ridge and Dry Tortugas in June.

Rebreather

Rebreathers reduce the amount of gear required and increase safety and bottom time.

Oceanography Moorings

Oceanography Moorings

Locations of three bottom-mounted physical oceanography moorings are shown with red dots.

Surface Height and Currents

Surface Height and Currents

Sea surface height and surface currents calculated from FKEYS-HYCOM model for dates in June 2013.

Trajectories

Trajectories from surface drifters deployed around the region in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Larvae

Light traps are used to collect larvae for studies of potential connectivity among marine habitats.

Ecological Connectivity

Ecological Connectivity

Ecological connectivity can also bring new pathogens, diseases, or invasive species.

Declining Reefs

Declining Reefs

Coral reefs are declining in many areas of the Wider Caribbean.