Site of coral samples taken between 2003 and 2009

Deep-sea coral samples were collected between 2003 and 2009 from two sites on the upper De Soto Slope subprovince: the head of De Soto Canyon and Viosca Knoll (VK), including the BOEMRE lease blocks VK862 and VK 906/907. The Deepwater Horizon wellhead at the Mississippi Canyon MC252 lease block (star) and the VK826 site are also marked. Samples were collected at water depths of approximately 300 m by using both a trawl net (at site labeled TOW) and the manned submersible Johnson-Sea-Link (all other sites).