DISCOVRE: Diversity, Systematics and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems Active
June is Oceans Month!
USGS is paving the way for exploration and scientific discovery in the largest ecosystem on our planet: the deep sea.
DEEP SEARCH: The Final Leg
USGS scientists mapped and collected data from deep-sea environments off the U.S. Southeastern coast
Deep-Sea EXPRESS
USGS scientists join multi-agency expedition to study deep-sea reefs and associated habitats off the U.S. West Coast
Deep Sea Discovery
USGS joins partners in discovery of 85-mile-long coral reef off the coast of South Carolina
DISCOVRE (DIversity, Systematics and COnnectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) is an integrated, multidisciplinary, international effort investigating the unique and fragile deep-sea coral environments from the microscopic level to the ecosystem level.
Deep-Sea Coral Resources
Check out the links below for more information on deep-sea corals.
The Deep Sea
The deep sea refers to anything below 200 m depth in the ocean; beyond this depth, little to no sunlight reaches, temperatures drop, and pressure increases. Yet, life persists. Diverse environments, such as trenches, canyons, volcanoes, and seamounts, scattered over the seafloor are home to a diversity of fishes, crustaceans, anemones, sea stars, and corals.
Deep-sea corals are as colorful and diverse as their shallow-water counterparts, however, because of the lack of sunlight, deepwater corals obtain energy by using their tentacles to capture prey rather than through photosynthesis. Deep-sea coral reefs provide food and shelter for marine life, including commercially and recreationally important species, and play a critical role in the aquatic food web.
To better understand these little explored yet vital deep-sea coral reef ecosystems, USGS scientists from around the Nation contribute their expertise to the DISCOVRE effort. The multi-disciplinary approach examines components of microbiology, population genetics, paleoecology, food webs, taxonomy, community ecology, physical oceanography, seafloor characteristics, and submarine hazards. DISCOVRE relies on a network of partners from around the country and world, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and academic institutions. Using innovative tools and technologies, USGS scientists implement a multi-faceted research program that weaves together expertise in a variety of disciplines to investigate deepwater reefs.
Benthic Ecology
Benthic ecology is the term scientists use to describe the study of the animals living in or on the bottom of a water body. As part of the DISCOVRE project, the Benthic Ecology Group conducts research to understand community structure, biodiversity, trophic structure, and habitat connectivity of marine benthic ecosystems. The work involves examining the animals living in and on the seafloor in a variety of natural and artificial marine habitats:
- deep-sea and shallow-water corals,
- chemosynthetic seeps,
- shipwrecks,
- marine canyons, and
- wetland communities.
Marine Geology and Geophysics
Geology and geophysics refer to the study of physical structure and associated processes occurring on the planet. The USGS marine geology and geophysics team maps seafloor morphology and images the shallow sub-seafloor structure of the canyons, plateaus, and other components of the deep-sea landscape to better understand the processes that form and shape these features. Sampling sediment and rocks allows scientists to ground truth geophysical and visual observations, while providing valuable information about the composition and age of these underwater geologic environments.
Microbial Ecology
Microbial ecology is the study of microbes (bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses), how they interact with each other, their host (if they are living on/in a plant or animal), and their environment.
Microbes are responsible for important ecosystem services, including biogeochemical cycling, nutrient availability, and structuring ecosystems by providing settlement cues to some invertebrates. Microbial associates have been shown to be key players in coral biology, serving functions such as fixing nitrogen, chelating iron, cycling waste products, and producing antibiotics to keep unwanted microbes from infecting the coral.
USGS identifies, characterizes, and enumerates environmental microbial communities, which are critical components of healthy marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, chemosynthetic seeps, and submarine canyons, with focus on coral microbiomes (both shallow and deep-sea), ecosystem metagenomics, and biodiversity.
Characterizing the microbial communities associated with deep-sea corals in these environments will increase the knowledge of the biodiversity in these ecosystems and provide insight into the variability or uniqueness of the corals between deep-sea environments.
Paleoclimatology
Paleoclimatology is the study of past climates using evidence found in a variety of the Earth's surfaces. USGS scientists are using long-lived black corals as archives to determine the climate and ocean chemistry over hundreds to thousands of years. Deep-sea corals are extremely useful in determining past climates, and recent developments in coral sampling techniques, as well as the ability to study corals in a wide variety of geographic areas, has increased the value of using deep-sea corals for climate change studies. Coral skeletons have rings, similar to trees, that help scientists determine environmental cycles and ocean variability.
Population Genetics
Population genetics is the study of genetic variation within and between populations. Understanding how the biodiversity of corals and other invertebrates is distributed throughout the deep-sea environment can help guide management of sensitive species, especially in areas of interest to oil and gas exploration. USGS uses genetic tools to characterize biodiversity and local and regional patterns of genetic connectivity among deep-sea coral habitats.
For more information:
CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. Ross S, Brooke S, Baird E, Coykendall E, Davies A, Demopoulos A, France S, Kellogg C, Mather R, Mienis F, Morrison C, Prouty N, Roark B, Robertson C. 2017. Exploration and Research of Mid-Atlantic Deepwater Hard Bottom Habitats and Shipwrecks with Emphasis on Canyons and Coral Communities: Atlantic Deepwater Canyons Study. Draft Report. Sterling (VA): U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Atlantic OCS Region. OCS Study BOEM 2017-060. 1,000 p. + apps.
Below are science projects associated with DISCOVRE.
Ecosystems: EXPRESS
Hazards: EXPRESS
EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
Resources: EXPRESS
Microbial Processes on Reefs
Genetic connectivity among regional populations of red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) in the North Pacific Ocean
Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities. Part II: Genetic Connectivity and Oceanomic Studies
Coral Microbial Ecology
DISCOVRE - Diversity, Systematics and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems Project
USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, Ecosystem Connectivity of Mid-Atlantic Deepwater Hard Bottom Habitats with Emphasis on Canyon and Coral Communities
USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, and Ecosystem Connectivity – Lophelia II: Continuing Ecological Research on Deep-Sea Corals and Deep Reef Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico
Below are publications associated with this project.
Coupling large-spatial scale larval dispersal modelling with barcoding to refine the amphi-Atlantic connectivity hypothesis in deep-sea seep mussels
Comprehensive inventory of habitat assessment and evaluation datasets to support Deepwater Horizon mesophotic and deep benthic communities
A characterization of the deep-sea coral and sponge community along the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts using a remotely operated vehicle on the EXPRESS 2019 expedition
Genetic diversity and connectivity of chemosynthetic cold seep mussels from the U.S. Atlantic margin
DEEP SEARCH project completes last year of field work with two successful expeditions
Workshops report for mesophotic and deep benthic community fish, mobile invertebrates, sessile invertebrates and infauna
A characterization of deep-sea coral and sponge communities along the California and Oregon coast using a remotely operated vehicle on the EXPRESS 2018 expedition
Unexpected diversity of Endozoicomonas in deep-sea corals
New geochemical tools for investigating resource and energy functions at deep-sea cold seeps using amino-acid δ15N in chemosymbiotic mussels (Bathymodiolus childressi)
Expanding the repertoire of electron acceptors for the anaerobic oxidation of methane in carbonates in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean
The role of habitat heterogeneity and canyon processes in structuring sediment macrofaunal communities associated with hard substrate habitats in Norfolk Canyon, USA
Biology characterization breakout report
EXPRESS Data Viewer
Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems (EXPRESS) is an inter-agency federal and nonfederal collaborative research effort aimed at gathering new data of the deep ocean, continental shelf and slope offshore of California, Oregon and Washington. This expansive partnership includes three federal agencies and additional principle investigators from leading research institutes.
Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research: Overview of the EXPRESS research campaign
A multi-agency team is mapping uncharted waters and exploring deep-sea ecosystems off the west coast of the United States.
Oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface, yet little is known about these vast underwater worlds. Less than 20% have been explored. A global initiative seeks to change that, by pledging to complete detailed mapping of one-hundred percent of the seafloor by the year 2030..
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
DISCOVRE (DIversity, Systematics and COnnectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) is an integrated, multidisciplinary, international effort investigating the unique and fragile deep-sea coral environments from the microscopic level to the ecosystem level.
Deep-Sea Coral ResourcesCheck out the links below for more information on deep-sea corals.
The Deep Sea
The deep sea refers to anything below 200 m depth in the ocean; beyond this depth, little to no sunlight reaches, temperatures drop, and pressure increases. Yet, life persists. Diverse environments, such as trenches, canyons, volcanoes, and seamounts, scattered over the seafloor are home to a diversity of fishes, crustaceans, anemones, sea stars, and corals.
Deep-sea corals are as colorful and diverse as their shallow-water counterparts, however, because of the lack of sunlight, deepwater corals obtain energy by using their tentacles to capture prey rather than through photosynthesis. Deep-sea coral reefs provide food and shelter for marine life, including commercially and recreationally important species, and play a critical role in the aquatic food web.
To better understand these little explored yet vital deep-sea coral reef ecosystems, USGS scientists from around the Nation contribute their expertise to the DISCOVRE effort. The multi-disciplinary approach examines components of microbiology, population genetics, paleoecology, food webs, taxonomy, community ecology, physical oceanography, seafloor characteristics, and submarine hazards. DISCOVRE relies on a network of partners from around the country and world, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and academic institutions. Using innovative tools and technologies, USGS scientists implement a multi-faceted research program that weaves together expertise in a variety of disciplines to investigate deepwater reefs.
Benthic Ecology
Benthic ecology is the term scientists use to describe the study of the animals living in or on the bottom of a water body. As part of the DISCOVRE project, the Benthic Ecology Group conducts research to understand community structure, biodiversity, trophic structure, and habitat connectivity of marine benthic ecosystems. The work involves examining the animals living in and on the seafloor in a variety of natural and artificial marine habitats:
- deep-sea and shallow-water corals,
- chemosynthetic seeps,
- shipwrecks,
- marine canyons, and
- wetland communities.
Marine Geology and Geophysics
Geology and geophysics refer to the study of physical structure and associated processes occurring on the planet. The USGS marine geology and geophysics team maps seafloor morphology and images the shallow sub-seafloor structure of the canyons, plateaus, and other components of the deep-sea landscape to better understand the processes that form and shape these features. Sampling sediment and rocks allows scientists to ground truth geophysical and visual observations, while providing valuable information about the composition and age of these underwater geologic environments.
Microbial Ecology
Microbial ecology is the study of microbes (bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses), how they interact with each other, their host (if they are living on/in a plant or animal), and their environment.
Microbes are responsible for important ecosystem services, including biogeochemical cycling, nutrient availability, and structuring ecosystems by providing settlement cues to some invertebrates. Microbial associates have been shown to be key players in coral biology, serving functions such as fixing nitrogen, chelating iron, cycling waste products, and producing antibiotics to keep unwanted microbes from infecting the coral.
USGS identifies, characterizes, and enumerates environmental microbial communities, which are critical components of healthy marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, chemosynthetic seeps, and submarine canyons, with focus on coral microbiomes (both shallow and deep-sea), ecosystem metagenomics, and biodiversity.
Characterizing the microbial communities associated with deep-sea corals in these environments will increase the knowledge of the biodiversity in these ecosystems and provide insight into the variability or uniqueness of the corals between deep-sea environments.
Paleoclimatology
Paleoclimatology is the study of past climates using evidence found in a variety of the Earth's surfaces. USGS scientists are using long-lived black corals as archives to determine the climate and ocean chemistry over hundreds to thousands of years. Deep-sea corals are extremely useful in determining past climates, and recent developments in coral sampling techniques, as well as the ability to study corals in a wide variety of geographic areas, has increased the value of using deep-sea corals for climate change studies. Coral skeletons have rings, similar to trees, that help scientists determine environmental cycles and ocean variability.
Population Genetics
Population genetics is the study of genetic variation within and between populations. Understanding how the biodiversity of corals and other invertebrates is distributed throughout the deep-sea environment can help guide management of sensitive species, especially in areas of interest to oil and gas exploration. USGS uses genetic tools to characterize biodiversity and local and regional patterns of genetic connectivity among deep-sea coral habitats.
For more information:
CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. Ross S, Brooke S, Baird E, Coykendall E, Davies A, Demopoulos A, France S, Kellogg C, Mather R, Mienis F, Morrison C, Prouty N, Roark B, Robertson C. 2017. Exploration and Research of Mid-Atlantic Deepwater Hard Bottom Habitats and Shipwrecks with Emphasis on Canyons and Coral Communities: Atlantic Deepwater Canyons Study. Draft Report. Sterling (VA): U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Atlantic OCS Region. OCS Study BOEM 2017-060. 1,000 p. + apps.
- Science
Below are science projects associated with DISCOVRE.
Ecosystems: EXPRESS
The continental shelf and slope offshore California, Oregon, and Washington are home to deep-sea corals, chemosynthetic communities, and other sensitive habitats that could be impacted by the development of energy and mineral resources. The EXPRESS (Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems) campaign will map and characterize these special areas to help guide ocean management...Hazards: EXPRESS
Marine geohazards including earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis lie offshore of densely populated areas of California, Oregon, and Washington. One goal of EXPRESS is to improve assessments of these hazards.EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope. EXPRESS data and information are intended to guide wise use of living marine resources and habitats, inform ocean energy and mineral resource decisions, and improve offshore hazard assessments.ByCoastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 3-D CT Core Imaging Laboratory, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Multi-Sensor Core Logger Laboratory, Organic Geochemistry Laboratory, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and CharacterizationResources: EXPRESS
Along the U.S. west coast, the Pacific Ocean, ocean floor, and winds above contain potentially vast energy and mineral resources. Developing these resources safely and wisely requires detailed information for each area of interest. One goal of EXPRESS is to inform ocean energy and mineral resource decisions.Microbial Processes on Reefs
The microbial community on coral reefs is generally underappreciated given the ubiquity, abundance, complexity, and formative role these prokaryotes serve in the metabolic and chemical processes on reefs. We use microbiological and metagenomic techniques to decipher the roles the microbial community are playing in processes such as coral disease, submarine groundwater discharge, calcification, and...Genetic connectivity among regional populations of red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) in the North Pacific Ocean
Knowledge of the degree to which populations are connected through larval dispersal is imperative to effective management, yet little is known about larval dispersal capability or population connectivity in Primnoa pacifica , an important habitat forming octocoral on the outer continental shelf and upper slope in the Gulf of Alaska.Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities. Part II: Genetic Connectivity and Oceanomic Studies
This study utilizes genetics and genomics techniques to characterize biodiversity and genetic connectivity among deep-sea coral habitats and cold seeps in and near submarine canyons and will use environmental DNA techniques to characterize plankton diversity and to identify key contributors to carbon export from surface waters that sustain sensitive benthic communities. The proposed genetics and...Coral Microbial Ecology
The coral microbial ecology group has an active research program identifying and characterizing the microbial associates of both tropical and cold-water (deep-sea) corals and their surrounding habitat. Current projects focus on coral disease dynamics, bacterial diversity, and using metagenomics to elucidate the functional roles of coral microbes.DISCOVRE - Diversity, Systematics and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems Project
This project uses amplicon sequencing, and functional microarrays to examine the microbiomes of several deep-sea coral species, with priority given to species that are also of interest to the population genetics group: Desmophyllum dianthus, Lophelia pertusa , Enallopsammia sp., and Acanthogorgia sp. The project also uses metagenomics to survey benthic habitats including coral mounds, cold seeps...USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, Ecosystem Connectivity of Mid-Atlantic Deepwater Hard Bottom Habitats with Emphasis on Canyon and Coral Communities
Deep-sea canyons are complex environments encompassing a range of benthic habitats, including soft sediments along the axis of the canyon, and hard substrates along the canyon walls.USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, and Ecosystem Connectivity – Lophelia II: Continuing Ecological Research on Deep-Sea Corals and Deep Reef Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico
Deep-sea coral habitats are complex ecosystems at the landscape and local level. While these systems may harbor substantial levels of biodiversity, they remain inadequately investigated. - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 103Coupling large-spatial scale larval dispersal modelling with barcoding to refine the amphi-Atlantic connectivity hypothesis in deep-sea seep mussels
In highly fragmented and relatively stable cold-seep ecosystems, species are expected to exhibit high migration rates and long-distance dispersal of long-lived pelagic larvae to maintain genetic integrity over their range. Accordingly, several species inhabiting cold seeps are widely distributed across the whole Atlantic Ocean, with low genetic divergence between metapopulations on both sides of tAuthorsElodie Portanier, A. Nicolle, W. Rath, L. Monnet, G. Le Goff, A.-S. Le Port, C. Daguin-Thiébaut, Cheryl Morrison, M.R. Cunha, M. Betters, Craig M. Young, Cindy L. Van Dover, A. Biastoch, E. Thiébaut, Didier JollivetComprehensive inventory of habitat assessment and evaluation datasets to support Deepwater Horizon mesophotic and deep benthic communities
This report is part of the NOAA Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) Series of publications that share the results of work conducted by the Deepwater Horizon MDBC restoration projects. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill was an unprecedented event. Approximately 3.2 million barrels of oil were released into the deep ocean over nearly three months. The plume of oil moved throughoutAuthorsRachel Bassett, Jennifer Herting, Janessy Frometa, Stephanie M. Sharuga, Jacob Howell, Laughlin Siceloff, Jill Bourque, Megan Cromwell, Kirstie Francis, Randy Clark, Amanda Demopoulos, Andy David, Kristopher Benson, Stacey L. HarterA characterization of the deep-sea coral and sponge community along the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts using a remotely operated vehicle on the EXPRESS 2019 expedition
NOAA’s Deep-Sea Coral Research Technology Program (DSCRTP) began a 4-year funding initiative for the U.S. West Coast in 2018. The goals of the West Coast Deep-Sea Coral Initiative were to: 1) gather baseline information on DSCS in areas subject to fishing regulation changes prior to the implementation of Amendment 28; 2) improve our understanding of known DSCS bycatch “hot spots”; and 3) explore aAuthorsTom Laidig, Diana Watters, Nancy G. Prouty, Meredith Everett, Lizzie Duncan, Liz Clarke, Chris Caldow, Jill Bourque, Jennifer McClain Counts, Amanda DemopoulosGenetic diversity and connectivity of chemosynthetic cold seep mussels from the U.S. Atlantic margin
BackgroundDeep-sea mussels in the subfamily Bathymodiolinae have unique adaptations to colonize hydrothermal-vent and cold-seep environments throughout the world ocean. These invertebrates function as important ecosystem engineers, creating heterogeneous habitat and promoting biodiversity in the deep sea. Despite their ecological significance, efforts to assess the diversity and connectivity of thAuthorsDanielle M. DeLeo, Cheryl Morrison, Mariki Sei, Veronica J. Salamone, Amanda Demopoulos, Andrea M. QuattriniDEEP SEARCH project completes last year of field work with two successful expeditions
In 2019, the Deep Sea Exploration to Advance Research on Coral/Canyon/Cold seep Habitats (DEEP SEARCH) project completed its third and final field season with two successful expeditions aboard NOAA Ships Ronald H. Brown and Nancy Foster.AuthorsErik E. Cordes, Amanda Demopoulos, Michael Rasser, Caitlin AdamsWorkshops report for mesophotic and deep benthic community fish, mobile invertebrates, sessile invertebrates and infauna
Two workshops with subject matter experts in the appropriate fields, were held in November and December 2021 to elicit guidance and feedback from the broader mesophotic and deep benthic scientific community. These workshops focused on best practices/approaches and identifying data gaps relative to habitat assessment and evaluation goals of the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Community (MDBC) restoratiAuthorsRachel Bassett, Stacey L. Harter, Randy Clark, Ian Zink, Katherine Hornick, Jennifer Hartman, Hanna Bliska, Melissa Carle, Tracey Sutton, Amanda Demopoulos, Andy David, Kristopher Benson, Jill Bourque, Martha S. Nizinski, Nancy G. Prouty, Stephanie M. Sharuga, Alicia Caporaso, Jennifer Le, Jennifer Herting, Cheryl Morrison, Matthew PotiA characterization of deep-sea coral and sponge communities along the California and Oregon coast using a remotely operated vehicle on the EXPRESS 2018 expedition
Deep-sea coral and sponge (DSCS) communities serve as essential fish habitats (EFH) by providing shelter and nursery habitat, increasing diversity, and increasing prey availability (Freese and Wing, 2003; Bright, 2007; Baillon et al., 2012; Henderson et al., 2020). Threats to these long-lived, fragile organisms from bottom contact fishing gear, potential offshore renewable energy development, andAuthorsTom Laidig, Diana Watters, Nancy G. Prouty, Meredith Everett, Lizzie Duncan, Liz Clarke, Chris Caldow, Amanda DemopoulosUnexpected diversity of Endozoicomonas in deep-sea corals
ABSTRACT: The deep ocean hosts a large diversity of azooxanthellate cold-water corals whose associated microbiomes remain to be described. While the bacterial genus Endozoicomonas has been widely identified as a dominant associate of tropical and temperate corals, it has rarely been detected in deep-sea corals. Determining microbial baselines for these cold-water corals is a critical first step toAuthorsChristina A. Kellogg, Zoe A. PratteNew geochemical tools for investigating resource and energy functions at deep-sea cold seeps using amino-acid δ15N in chemosymbiotic mussels (Bathymodiolus childressi)
In order to reconstruct the ecosystem structure of chemosynthetic environments in the fossil record, geochemical proxies must be developed. Here, we present a suite of novel compound-specific isotope parameters for tracing chemosynthetic production with a focus on understanding nitrogen dynamics in deep-sea cold seep environments. We examined the chemosymbiotic bivalve Bathymodiolus childressi froAuthorsNatasha Vokhshoori, Matt McCarthy, Hilary Close, Amanda Demopoulos, Nancy G. ProutyExpanding the repertoire of electron acceptors for the anaerobic oxidation of methane in carbonates in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean
Authigenic carbonates represent a significant microbial sink for methane, yet little is known about the microbiome responsible for the methane removal. We identify carbonate microbiomes distributed over 21 locations hosted by seven different cold seeps in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans by carrying out a gene-based survey using 16S rRNA- and mcrA gene sequencing coupled with metagenomic analyses.AuthorsSabrina Beckmann, Ibrahim F. Farag, Rui Zhao, Glenn Christman, Nancy G. Prouty, Jennifer F. BiddleThe role of habitat heterogeneity and canyon processes in structuring sediment macrofaunal communities associated with hard substrate habitats in Norfolk Canyon, USA
Topographic and hydrodynamic complexity in submarine canyons promotes steep gradients in food availability and geophysical parameters which affect ecological assemblages and beta diversity. While habitat heterogeneity in submarine canyons is known to support diverse and abundant megafaunal communities, due to difficulty in sampling little is known about infaunal communities adjacent to hard substrAuthorsJill Bourque, Amanda Demopoulos, Craig M. Robertson, Furu MienisBiology characterization breakout report
The primary goal of the biology characterization breakout group was to identify the strategies, tools, data priorities, and key partnerships needed to conduct baseline biological characterizations of deep-sea benthic environments across the U.S. EEZ in the Pacific. Discussions focused primarily on priorities for the characterization of deep-water (>200-meter depths) benthic biological communities;AuthorsAmanda Demopoulos, Daniel Wagner, Amy Baco-Taylor, David Itano, Diva Amon, Erik E. Cordes, Lisa Levin, Peter H. Edwards, Randall Kosaki, Shirley Pomponi, Steve Gittings - Web Tools
EXPRESS Data Viewer
Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems (EXPRESS) is an inter-agency federal and nonfederal collaborative research effort aimed at gathering new data of the deep ocean, continental shelf and slope offshore of California, Oregon and Washington. This expansive partnership includes three federal agencies and additional principle investigators from leading research institutes.
Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research: Overview of the EXPRESS research campaign
A multi-agency team is mapping uncharted waters and exploring deep-sea ecosystems off the west coast of the United States.
Oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface, yet little is known about these vast underwater worlds. Less than 20% have been explored. A global initiative seeks to change that, by pledging to complete detailed mapping of one-hundred percent of the seafloor by the year 2030..
- News
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 40 - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.