Lophelia II 2009: Mississippi Canyon 751 $

The Mississippi River continues below the sea surface in the Gulf of Mexico to 4000 m depth as a submarine canyon called the Mississippi Canyon. Nutrients from the river support abundant deep-sea coral communities. Callogorgia and Lophelia corals settle and grow on carbonate outcrops, feeding on suspended matter. Brittlestars, squat lobsters, and urchins occur on most colonies. Active methane seeps are in the immediate vicinity. The 'infaunal' community is observed using sediment push-cores.

Video courtesy Lophelia II 2009: Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks Expedition, sponsored by Minerals Management Service and NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. Music is "One Sly Move" by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• MC751
• Lophelia II
• Minerals Management Service
• Mississippi Canyon
• deep-sea
• coral