Marine Institute
SeaRover Dive Video

D528 Transect RB26 Dense biogenic Solenosmilia reefs on slope and vertical wall. Not Priority. Features: Escarpment. Water depth: -1610 m. TL: 2 km. SOL: 13° 31.771' W 56° 37.802' N

Highlights: Octocoral - Paragorgia Fish Chimaera Solenosmilia & anemone

Dive begins on a coral garden amongst gorgonian corals, including Paramuricea sp. and Jasonisis sp., and abundant lamellate sponges. Later another coral garden occurs on primarily degraded Solenosmilia reef transitioning to healthy Solenosmilia reef with 25-50% living coral. A variety of coral species include the gorgonian Paramuricea, bamboo corals Jasonisis, Lepidisis sp., Keratosis sp., and Eknomisis sp.,the black coral Parantipathes sp. and pink morphotypes of the gorgonian Paragorgia sp. with snake stars. Some fishing gear is observed. On carbonate terraces there are blue encrusting sponge and sea pens at the base of the incline and also Ophiomusium lymani, Parantipathes sp., Stichopathes sp. and Anthomastus sp. On the Solenosmilia rubble there are massive white and yellow sponges and encrusting yellow and blue forms. On the soft ground the fauna consists of Anthomastus sp., Stichopathes sp. and cup corals. On the cliff are encrusting sponges of the blue, yellow and grey varieties occur.

VIDEO A. [00:00:00] [1] Video A lasts 10 sec. Poor vision, however mud slope with scattered isolated Solenosmilia variabilis (poss) framework. VIDEO ENDS.

VIDEO B. [00:00:12] [2] Mud sediment on gentle upslope hosts isolated coral colonies, such as Paragorgia, Leiopathes, Paramuricea on small pebbles/cobbles. 7m ROV stops for imagery of coral reef made of Solenosmilia variabilis OTU700, Keratoisis sp. OTU1157 and lamellate sponges OTU422. [00:12:00] [3] S. variabilis framework on mud slope. [00:28:40] [4] carbonate vertical wall/carbonate ledges with inlets. Encrusting sponges OTU800 and sparse isolated scleractinian OTU6 on hard substrate. [00:29:00] now ROV reaches a [5] muddy flat/gentle upslope hosting scattered coral framework/rubble of S. variabilis OTU700. [00:32:00] here Paramuricea sp. and Keratoisis sp. are frequent. [00:36:25] ROV flared mud cloud. [00:42:00] Mud cloud. [00:40:00] [6] coral framework is dense here. [00:45:00] ROV stops for mud cloud/vision obscured. 48 vision slightly clear. ROV stops for imagery and sampling of Keratoisis sp. (fine-branching) OTU1157. [00:56:00] [7] dense coral reef (<25% living reef) on upslope hosting Keratoisis sp. [01:19:00] Water column vision. [01:24:00] [8] steep mud slope with scattered boulders. [01:26:00] vertical wall with scattered overhanged coral reef. [01:35:00] [9] now coral framework on steeps slope, reefs include S. variabilis and Keratoisis sp. Steep muddy slope with scattered S. variabilis reefs. [01:42:00] [10] Mud slope with frequent encounters of lamellate sponges OTU1010. VIDEO B ENDS. VIDEO C. [01:48:00] Muddy summit. [01:53:00] ROV reaches the edge of the cliff. [01:55:00] ROV goes down steep slope. 8m water column vision. [01:57:00] [11] S. variabilis on steep slope. [02:01:00] dense coral reef (25-50% living). Mud on steep slope. [02:07:00] ROV stops for imagery of Dendrobathypathes sp. (brown) OTU1015. VIDEO C ENDS AT [02:12:00].

Progression Start Duration Code Name

Porifera
Asconema sp. : 1038 : R
Mycale lingua : 171 : R
Porifera encrusting sp. 15 (yellow) : 58 : R
Porifera lamellate (Hexactinosida) : 1151 : R
Porifera lamellate sp. 10 : 1010 : R
Porifera lamellate sp. 7 : 422 : R
Porifera massive lobose sp. 22 (yellow cf. Hertwigia sp. ) : 616 : R
Blue Porifera encrusting : 800 : R
Cnidaria
Actiniaria sp. (large red) : 1120 : R
Actinoscyphiidae sp. 1 (pink) : 1047 : R
Actinostolidae sp. 1 : 132 : R
Stichopathes sp. : 560 : R
Leiopathes sp. (dense) : 612 : R
Bathypathes sp. (brown) : 284 : R
Dendrobathypathes ( prev. Stauropathes sp. 1) : 1015 : R
Parantipathes sp. : 1042 : R
Stauropathes arctica : 547 : R
Caryophyllia sp. 2 : 6 : R
Solenosmilia variabilis : 700 : F
Zoanthidea sp. : 1149 : R
Acanthogorgia cf. armata : 608 : R

Anthomastus grandiflorus : 278 : R
Keratoisis sp. (fine branching) : 1157 : R
Keratoisis sp. 2 : 578 : F
Lepidisis sp. : 557 : O
Paragorgia (twiggy) (poss. Swiftia) : 1065 : R
Paramuricea sp. : 1050 : R
Gorgonacea sp. (pink, Solenosmilia assoc.) (Jasonisis) : 1070 : R
Gorgonacea sp. 7 (pink) cf. Isidella : 307 : R
Anthoptilum sp. : 1107 : R
Pennatula cf. inflata : 1083 : R
Annelida
Bonellia viridis : 267 : R
Echinodermata
Pentametrocrinus atlanticus : 436 : R
Crinoidea sp. 1 : 131 : R
Asteronyx loveni : 471 : R
Gorgonocephalus sp. 1 : 214 : R
Ophiomusa lymani : 551 : R
Ophiuroidea sp. (orange deep) : 646 : R
Ophiuroidea sp. 11 (red disc) : 1036 : R
Brisingidae sp. : 274 : O
cf. Henricia sp. (deep) : 1154 : R
Porania sp. : 263 : R

Solaster endeca : 573 : R
Pterasteridae sp. : 1115 : R
cf. Echinus (deep pink spine) : 1129 : O
Chordata
Galeus melastomus : 1005 : R
Squaliformes sp. : 569 : R
Hydrolagus cf. affinis : 1039 : R
Harriotta haeckeli : 1185 : R
Nezumia aequalis : 1003 : R
Coryphaenoides rupestris : 566 : R
Trachyrincus sp. : 446 : R
Mora moro : 349 : R
Polyacanthonotus rissoanus : 552 : R
Zoarcidae sp. 1 : 259 : R
Neocyttus helgae : 563 : R
Actinopterygii sp. 4 : 1006 : R

Number of species = 57

© Marine Institute, MERC Consultants, Bernard Picton 2022