Welker Seamount Sponge Reef

A deep-sea sponge reef 850 m deep on Welker Seamount in the Gulf of Alaska. A large pink Paragorgia bubblegum coral (~ 1 m tall) stands amidst hundreds of Farrea occa sponges. Other sponges and sea fans are present, too. Small crabs and shrimps are visible on the colonies and on the seafloor. Many crustaceans are hidden except for their small red eyes. Video by Alvin submersible aboard WHOI ship RV Atlantis during the Gulf of Alaska Seamount Expedition in 2004. Lasers are 10 cm (~ 4 in) apart. For more information see NOAA's OceanExplorer website: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04alaska/welcome.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• seamount
• sponge reef
• deep-sea coral
• gulf of alaska
• farrea occa
• paragorgia