Marine Institute
SeaRover Dive Video

D669 Transect 14 Predominantly coral rubble across the transect. Dense Lophelia/Madrepora reef framework intersperse with Aphrocallistes sp. and Pliobothrus towards the end of the video. P1. Water depth: 855m. Feature: Within SAC

Highlights: Anglerfish - Lophius piscatorius Anglerfish - Lophius piscatorius & stylasterid corals Anglerfish - Lophius piscatorius & stylasterid corals Lophelia reef Lophelia, Madrepora & Aphrocallistes Anglerfish - Lophius piscatorius Stylasterid corals & sponges

Of note: Desmophyllum reef.

Initially there is a gentle slope with some coral rubble. As the slope becomes steeper, reef cover (Lophelia pertusa and some Madrepora oculata) increases. Initially, occasional colonies of the stone coral Madrepora occulata are observed. The octocorals Paramuricea, Muricea, Clavularia and Acanthogorgia are abundant. Crabs include Bathynectes. There are many hexactinellid sponges and encrusting sponges including Hymedesmia. On the pebbly slope the holothurian Psolus, stylasterid hydroids and the soft coral Anthomastus are abundant. The echinoid Cidaris cidaris is common. Fish species include numerous Lepidion eques, the blackbelly rosefish, large monkfish and a large shark.

START VIDEO [00:00:00]/06:29. Predominantly coral rubble across the transect. Dense Lophelia/Madrepora reef framework intersperse with Aphrocallistes sp. and Pliobothrus sp. towards the end of the video. [1] [00:01:00] ROV lands on dense biogenic reef (mostly dead). Cf. Clavulariidae species living on coral rubble with sparse squat lobster (<4cm in body length). [00:57:00] [2] Here coral framework of Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata reefs hosting a variety of epifauna species, including sparse Aphrocallistes sp. . [01:34:00] Now Aphrocallistes sp. is more abundant in the reef. [01:47:00] [3] Here, the seafloor changes into gravel and cobbles. The topography is slightly hilly. Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) (species TBC) spotted around coral reef. This species is classified as ‘near threatened’ in the IUCN Red List. [01:50:00] Now, we encounter very abundant Pliobothrus sp. on cobble fields with frequent presence of Aphrocallistes sp. . [02:12:00] Still Pliobothrus sp. recorded frequently on cobble fields. [02:20:00] ROV stops for core sampling (2 cores). [02:21:00] Abundant cf. Psolus sp on cobbles. END VIDEO [02:28:00]/08:26. N.B. Brown/purple fluffy-looking species (cf octocorals fluffiness) encountered abundantly living on coral rubble/gravel for most of the entire transect. Cf. Clavulariidae or cf. Anthothela sp. are possibly the most likely suggestions. However, further expert opinion is necessary. FYI, the ROV does not stop to verify the species characteristics.

Progression Start Duration Code Name
1[00:00:01]23:59:59M.AtMB.Bi.CorReeAtlantic mid bathyal cold water coral reef (biogenic structure)
2[00:57:07]00:49:24M.AtMB.Bi.CorReeAtlantic mid bathyal cold water coral reef (biogenic structure)
3[01:46:32]00:42:02M.AtMB.Ro.MixCorMixed cold water coral community on Atlantic mid bathyal rock and other hard substrata

Porifera
Aphrocallistes beatrix : 264 : F
Hexadella dedritifera : 658 : R
Porifera encrusting sp. 1 (white) : 1 : R
Blue Porifera encrusting : 800 : R
Cnidaria
Cerianthidae sp. 1 : 2 : R
Pachycerianthus multiplicatus : 458 : R
Actiniaria sp. 1 : 4 : R
Actiniaria sp. 20 : 605 : R
Actinostolidae sp. 1 : 132 : R
Caryophyllia sp. 2 : 6 : R
Lophelia pertusa : 250 : S
Madrepora oculata : 251 : R
Acanthogorgia cf. armata : 608 : R
Anthomastus grandiflorus : 278 : R
cf. Clavulariidae sp. : 289 : C
Paramuricea sp. : 1050 : R
Pliobothrus sp. : 207 : F

Arthropoda
Chaceon affinis : 254 : R
Paromola cuvieri : 304 : R
Bathynectes sp. : 235 : R
Munidopsis sp. : 1126 : R
Munnopsidae sp. : 1102 : R
Cirripedia sp. 1 : 82 : R
Mollusca
Muusoctopus johnsonianus : 1194 : R
Teuthida sp. 1 : 1017 : R
Hypsogastropoda sp. : 621 : R
Echinodermata
cf. Hymenaster (yellow) : 1174 : R
Pterasteridae sp. : 1115 : R
Cidaris cidaris : 211 : F
cf. Psolus sp. : 1049 : F
cf. Benthogone sp. (white) : 574 : R
Chordata
Ascidiacea sp. 2 : 20 : R

Galeus sp. : 1305 : R
Hexanchus griseus : 1306 : R
Synaphobranchus kaupii : 440 : R
Beryx decadactylus : 1025 : R
Coryphaenoides rupestris : 566 : R
Macrouridae sp. (cf. Coelorhynchus) : 1172 : R
Lepidion eques : 249 : R
Mora moro : 349 : R
Phycis blennoides : 1020 : R
Lophius piscatorius : 273 : R
Trichiuridae sp. : 1303 : R
Helicolenus dactylopterus : 227 : R
Actinopterygii sp. 3 : 930 : R

Number of species = 45

© Marine Institute, MERC Consultants, Bernard Picton 2022