2011 GRI Sampling Cruise:macrocrustaceans and associated fauna offshore the northern Gulf of Mexico

This video highlights sampling of macrocrustaceans and associated fauna in the northern Gulf of Mexico by means of a benthic skimmer. Support for the August 26-30, 2011, collecting cruise was funded by a Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative RFP-III Summer/Fall 2011Sampling Award (GRI-008, http://www.gulfresearchinitiative.org/research/awards/rfp-iii-awards/) granted to Suzanne Fredericq and Darryl Felder from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (‪http://biology.ucs.louisiana.edu/). The award is entitled "Stop-gap Sampling to Assess the Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the Macroalgae and Macrocrustaceans in the Northern Gulf of Mexico". The collections are facilitating critical assessment of pre- and post-oil spill impacts on the diversity, vitality, and distribution of these offshore organisms.Results analyzed from the dredging expedition off Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama (August 26-30, 2011) indicate decapod crustacean diversity (and associated fauna, such as sponges and molluscs) was low. Shown in this video are deployments of a benthic skimmer and examples of macrocrustaceans and associated fauna (sponges, sea cucumbers, molluscs, sea anemones, nemertine worms, fish) dredged from ~100-1750 m depth.

The molluscs filmed here were preserved and identified by Emilio Garcia: Eosipho canetae, Macoma limula, Gemmula periscelida, and Scaphander watsoni.

A benthic skimmer provided an ancillary tool for work on lower slopes of hard banks and surrounding bottom, taking advantage of ship access to these locations in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and allowing a comparison to established data sets for especially deep benthos. While operated below depths inhabited by most macroalgae, it provided excellent intact samples of benthic macrocrustaceans and associated fauna. The skimmer is constructed precisely in accord with those used in the most extensive previous surveys of such Gulf environs by the R/V Alaminos in the 1960's through early 1970's (Pequegnat et al. 1970). This standardization of tools potentially allows comparisons of new collections to a substantial published record of deep Gulf benthos in proximity to the oil spill. Reference: Pequegnat, W. E., T.J. Bright & G.M. James. 1970. The benthic skimmer, a new biological sampler for deep-sea studies. TAMU Oceanographic Studies 1: 17-20.

Seaweeds and macrocrustaceans collected with a Hourglass-design box dredge from depths of 53-100 m can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/nemastoma2#p/a/u/0/6lwHGzC-1D8.

The expedition departed from LUMCON in Cocodrie LA, on board the R/V Pelican, a 32 m (105ft) ABS Class "A-1+ Oceanographic, steel-hull coastal research vessel operated by UNOLS.

Filmed and edited by S. Fredericq.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Offshore (hydrocarbons) BP
• invertebrates
• marine
• crustaceans
• oil
• taxonomy
• biogeography
• exploration
• collections
• Cruise