Highlights: 00:36:15 Fish 00:54:48 File shell - Acesta excavata & brisingid starfish on Solenosmilia 02:07:19 Yellow sea fan on Lophelia

Xenophyophores and scattered sponges (glass, fan-shaped), with Acanella sp., sea pens and Stichopathes common on soft sediment. Fish species included grenadiers, eels, sharks and chimeras. At the base of a large cliff coral rubble (Solenosmilia) was apparent and the oyster, Acesta excavata, was present on the steep incline and super-abundant. A community of sponges, tunicates, large brisingids and fish were present under overhangs. Ground continued as slightly undulating soft sediment with boulders and moved onto large rubble mound with living Solenosmilia and increasing numbers of gorgonians and sponges. On soft ground Ophiomusium lymani is very common. Coral rubble occurs on carbonate sediment with mud overlay. A coral field is present with the densest areas of reef on the cliff edges and steep inclines. In these areas the associated fauna includes large lamellate and cup sponges, brisingiids, Paramuricea sp., Parantipathes sp., Eknomisis sp., Keratoisis sp., Bathypathes sp., Phanopathes sp. and Jasonisis sp. with urchins and ophiuroids on and amongst the reef. Heavy marine snow was a feature of this site.

START VIDEO [00:00:00]/02:46. [1] Mud gentle/moderate slope. Sparse epifauna including Acanella arbuscula OTU585. [00:20:00] [2] Mud steep slope hosts lamellate sponges OTU1010 and Ophiomusa lymani OTU551. ROV samples two pushcores. Soon after ROV stops for imagery of Acanella arbuscula OTU585. Vision is poor at this stage due to mud cloud. [00:19:00] Vision back to normal. However, mud cloud and marine snow are frequently detected throughout the transect. [00:32:00] marine snow/water column vision. [00:41:00] [3] Here the slope becomes steeper and steeper. Listed species Hoplostethus atlanticus OTU227 encountered. [4] Here coral framework covers the seafloor. [00:42:00] Now vertical wall. Solenosmilia variabilis OTU700 framework (100% dead) host several epifauna, mainly erect sponges. [00:47:00] [5] S. variabilis reefs on vertical wall host Brisingidae OTU274 and Acesta excavata OTU1062. [01:01:00] [6] ROV reaches the summit where flat/gentle slope begins. Sparse epifauna, mainly sponge lamellate OTU1010. [01:12:00] Mud cloud. [01:18:00] [7] Boulder with encrusting fauna, including sponge OTU800. Ceriantharia OTU1069 inhabits mud sediment. [00:01:20] ROV stops for imagery and sampling of Acanella arbuscula. [01:40:00] [8] erect sponges OTU1010 living on mud. [01:48:00] ROV stops for imagery of boulder with encrusting species and S. variabilis reef. When approaching the sea floor, ROV causes mud cloud. Now obscured vision. [01:57:00] here again erect deep sea sponge aggregations OTU1010 on mud.

VIDEO B. [02:01:43] Video B lasts 33 minutes. [9] Mud sediment on gentle slope with coral framework/rubble and erect sponges. 5m ROV stops for imagery of Keratoisis (fine-branching) OTU1157, coral framework and sponges. [10] [02:15:44] coral framework is dense here with yellow sponges and Brisingidae. [11] [02:17:00] coral garden (<25% living) hosting Alcyonacea OTU1157 and erect sponges OTU1151. [02:18:00] water column vision. [02:19:00] ROV reaches the edge of the cliff and it goes filming down slope along the vertical wall. [12] Coral reef hanging from the vertical wall. Brisingidae on corals. [02:25:00] water column. [02:26:00] [13] coral framework and coral reef on gentle slope. Other epifauna include Keratoisis OTU1157. [02:32:00] [14] dense coral reef on moderate slope hosting abundant A. excavata on reef. [02:33:00] Plastic bag on coral reef. [02:34:00] mud cloud. END.