Exploration and research of northern Gulf of Mexico deepwater natural and artificial hard-bottom habitats with emphasis on coral communities: Reefs, rigs, and wrecks—“Lophelia II” Interim report

Abstract

The platform part of this interim report discusses ROV surveys at four platforms off Louisiana. From the Conclusions: “Distinct Biological Assemblages with Increasing Depth: • 75–250' dominated by Tubastrea coccinea, large predatory reef fishes (jacks, barracuda) and sharks. • 250–400' dominated by black corals and gorgonians, and small yellow anemones. Few fishes. • 400'–800' a mixed assemblage of anemones. Snowy grouper and jacks. Small midwater fishes. • 800–1,000'- Lophelia pertusa and flytrap anemones first observed. Barrelfish, jacks, and snowy grouper. • 1,000–1,200' - Lophelia pertusa increasingly abundant. • 1,200–1,250' - Lophelia sparse. • 1,200–1,280' - Flytrap anemones dominate. • 800–1,280' - Barrelfish dominates fish community.”