Post by LSDeep on Aug 22, 2005 9:58:09 GMT -5
Pulley Ridge coral reef off the Keys has scientists perplexed
By TIMOTHY O'HARA Key West Citizen
August 20, 2005
OFF THE FLORIDA KEYS- A small craft hovers over a slimy purplish red creature feeding on small organisms as a diver combs the dark terrain, scooping up a spineless creature that looks so bizarre, it couldn't possibly be from Earth.
The vessel and explorer drift off into the cobalt blue abyss in search of more species.
"We've got worms," a voice from the vessel radios to the mother ship, as the sub crosses a field of tubular white invertebrates.
A small red grouper swims by, reminding the diver that he's not on Mars or the moon, but exploring a coral reef hundreds of feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico. The reef offers as many questions for scientists as space, but is, to some degree, less explored.
Few people have made the 250-foot descent to Pulley Ridge, the deepest coral reef in the continental United States. Fishermen knew it was a grouper and tilefish habitat and that there were sponges, but it was not until recently that it was really visited.
A submersible vessel made the journey in the late 1990s, allowing scientists to see it. Recently, a few brave souls dove the reef and for the first time man was able to touch it. The trip also led to the most profound research of the area ever, scientists said.
A collection of the world's leading coral ecologists, scientists and divers embarked on a scientific armada to Pulley Ridge, 150 miles west of the Dry Tortugas. The goal was to search the sea floor in search of coral, fish and other unusual sea life that call the reef home.
The research trip was reminiscent of early space exploration of the 1960s. Instead of a moon rover and space suits, they had a one-person submersible, a remote operating vessel and some of the most high tech diving gear the world has to offer.
Key West naturalist diver and Explorers Club fellow Tim Taylor and Mote Marine Laboratory scientist Jim Culter led a hand-picked group of highly experienced "tech divers" to serve as scouts and sample collectors on the expedition. Divers worked in conjunction with scientists explored the bottom in a $1.5 million submersible research vessel and a remote control vessel.
Crews worked through the night to process samples and made one of the expedition's most interesting findings with the help of the night skies: the discovery of a bioluminescent algae that could yield clues to the corals' health. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and the National Geographic Society's explorer-in-residence, called the reef "enormously rich with life and diversity."
"It's like a beautiful garden," said Earle, who viewed the reef the first time via a submersible in the late 1990s on a National Geographic/NOAA Sustainable Seas Expedition.
The coral on the reef is exceptionally healthy compared with many shallow reefs in the Florida Keys and Caribbean. The reef may be isolated from the mainland but it is not immune from some of its problems. And the reef sits downstream from the notorious "dead zone" that forms each year in the Gulf at the mouth of the Mississippi River. However, strong currents, clear blue water and possible symbiotic relationships among organisms could allow it to thrive.
Scientists are puzzled about how the agaricia coral survive and thrive in deep water with such little light. Other coral reefs lie no deeper than 150 feet, but the Pulley Ridge reef sits below 250 to 275 feet of water, coral ecologist Wes Tunnell said. The 10-day research trip allowed some of the leading coral researchers to explore the relationships among coral, bioluminescent algae, red grouper and other creatures that call the reef home.
The iridescent multicolor coral called agaricia served as the main lure to Pulley Ridge. Scientists collected samples of the red, purple and blue lettuce-like coral and its neighboring green, leafy algae called anadyomene.
Living coral reefs are usually restricted to depths light can reach, which is why most are in shallow waters. At Pulley Ridge, the clear cobalt blue water and strong currents definitely lift some obstacles blocking the sun, but scientists wonder if it is enough.
The answer to Pulley Ridge's coral health could be tied to another symbiotic relationship, between the coral and a bioluminescent bacteria. Scientists discovered bacterial strains that glow in the dark and range in intensity and color from a neon green to greenish blue, said Kim Ritchie, manager of microbiology research at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, who likens the bacteria's properties to "superpowers."
Corals have never been shown to harbor bioluminescent bacterial symbionts. The glowing bacteria may help the coral access additional light. Ritchie speculates that the Pulley Ridge corals could also use the bioluminescence in the bacteria to attract zooplankton, a coral food source, she said.
"The exact significance in coral ecology is not known. It's not even clear if there are enough of these symbionts to play a significant role in the deep-sea corals biology," Ritchie said.
Some deepwater fish species, such as the flashlight fish and anglerfish, use bioluminescent bacteria for survival. The anglerfish, which lives hundreds of feet below the surface, has strategically placed bioluminescent bacteria in a pouch that hangs from its head and looks and acts like a fishing rod.
Other fish are attracted to this lure and get eaten. Researchers stumbled across the bacteria while going through samples at night aboard one of the research vessels. They were examining specimens with a flashlight and noticed a strange light coming out of the water. The scientists have taken the samples to Mote's lab in Sarasota and are in the process of identifying the bacteria. They also don't know if the bacteria lives in the polyp or in the slimy surface mucus that covers the coral.
"They're incredibly spectacular," Ritchie said. "They light up the corner of my lab, when the lights are out ..... It's eerie."
Another interesting find that perplexed scientists was the discovery of a field of wispy, fragile calcium carbonate tubes created by segmented worms. The worms build the tubes for shelter. The tubes line the sea floor 250 feet down. The tubes are so delicate that propulsion from the submersible thrusters uprooted some branches and blew them about the sea bottom.
The tubes are created by small animals scientists speculate are polychaetes, an invertebrate that creates the hollow calcium-carbonate as a form of protection. The creature has small, feather-like tentacles that grab passing plankton and other small animals as meals.
"They may be a new species. I have never heard of this type of worm being discovered in the Gulf regions," scientist David Guggenheim said.
Scientists are concerned about the fragile reef and some want the government to set it aside as a no-fishing zone and tighten up restrictions on anchoring and trawling. The area was mapped so scientists could identify the most sensitive sections, which could be damaged by trawling gear or anchors.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council last year created new fishing gear regulations for 104 square nautical miles surrounding Pulley Ridge. The council also designated a larger area of roughly 2,300 square nautical miles as a "Habitat Area of Particular Concern." People fishing at Pulley Ridge cannot drop anchors, fish traps or lobster pots, or use trawling gear or bottom long lines.
Earle and Taylor said the time is now to start looking at placing even greater restrictions on the area. Earle said she realizes that there may be some opposition to this, but it is more important to protect the long-term health of this reef and the rest of the Gulf.
"Science should transcend politics," Earle said.
By TIMOTHY O'HARA Key West Citizen
August 20, 2005
OFF THE FLORIDA KEYS- A small craft hovers over a slimy purplish red creature feeding on small organisms as a diver combs the dark terrain, scooping up a spineless creature that looks so bizarre, it couldn't possibly be from Earth.
The vessel and explorer drift off into the cobalt blue abyss in search of more species.
"We've got worms," a voice from the vessel radios to the mother ship, as the sub crosses a field of tubular white invertebrates.
A small red grouper swims by, reminding the diver that he's not on Mars or the moon, but exploring a coral reef hundreds of feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico. The reef offers as many questions for scientists as space, but is, to some degree, less explored.
Few people have made the 250-foot descent to Pulley Ridge, the deepest coral reef in the continental United States. Fishermen knew it was a grouper and tilefish habitat and that there were sponges, but it was not until recently that it was really visited.
A submersible vessel made the journey in the late 1990s, allowing scientists to see it. Recently, a few brave souls dove the reef and for the first time man was able to touch it. The trip also led to the most profound research of the area ever, scientists said.
A collection of the world's leading coral ecologists, scientists and divers embarked on a scientific armada to Pulley Ridge, 150 miles west of the Dry Tortugas. The goal was to search the sea floor in search of coral, fish and other unusual sea life that call the reef home.
The research trip was reminiscent of early space exploration of the 1960s. Instead of a moon rover and space suits, they had a one-person submersible, a remote operating vessel and some of the most high tech diving gear the world has to offer.
Key West naturalist diver and Explorers Club fellow Tim Taylor and Mote Marine Laboratory scientist Jim Culter led a hand-picked group of highly experienced "tech divers" to serve as scouts and sample collectors on the expedition. Divers worked in conjunction with scientists explored the bottom in a $1.5 million submersible research vessel and a remote control vessel.
Crews worked through the night to process samples and made one of the expedition's most interesting findings with the help of the night skies: the discovery of a bioluminescent algae that could yield clues to the corals' health. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and the National Geographic Society's explorer-in-residence, called the reef "enormously rich with life and diversity."
"It's like a beautiful garden," said Earle, who viewed the reef the first time via a submersible in the late 1990s on a National Geographic/NOAA Sustainable Seas Expedition.
The coral on the reef is exceptionally healthy compared with many shallow reefs in the Florida Keys and Caribbean. The reef may be isolated from the mainland but it is not immune from some of its problems. And the reef sits downstream from the notorious "dead zone" that forms each year in the Gulf at the mouth of the Mississippi River. However, strong currents, clear blue water and possible symbiotic relationships among organisms could allow it to thrive.
Scientists are puzzled about how the agaricia coral survive and thrive in deep water with such little light. Other coral reefs lie no deeper than 150 feet, but the Pulley Ridge reef sits below 250 to 275 feet of water, coral ecologist Wes Tunnell said. The 10-day research trip allowed some of the leading coral researchers to explore the relationships among coral, bioluminescent algae, red grouper and other creatures that call the reef home.
The iridescent multicolor coral called agaricia served as the main lure to Pulley Ridge. Scientists collected samples of the red, purple and blue lettuce-like coral and its neighboring green, leafy algae called anadyomene.
Living coral reefs are usually restricted to depths light can reach, which is why most are in shallow waters. At Pulley Ridge, the clear cobalt blue water and strong currents definitely lift some obstacles blocking the sun, but scientists wonder if it is enough.
The answer to Pulley Ridge's coral health could be tied to another symbiotic relationship, between the coral and a bioluminescent bacteria. Scientists discovered bacterial strains that glow in the dark and range in intensity and color from a neon green to greenish blue, said Kim Ritchie, manager of microbiology research at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, who likens the bacteria's properties to "superpowers."
Corals have never been shown to harbor bioluminescent bacterial symbionts. The glowing bacteria may help the coral access additional light. Ritchie speculates that the Pulley Ridge corals could also use the bioluminescence in the bacteria to attract zooplankton, a coral food source, she said.
"The exact significance in coral ecology is not known. It's not even clear if there are enough of these symbionts to play a significant role in the deep-sea corals biology," Ritchie said.
Some deepwater fish species, such as the flashlight fish and anglerfish, use bioluminescent bacteria for survival. The anglerfish, which lives hundreds of feet below the surface, has strategically placed bioluminescent bacteria in a pouch that hangs from its head and looks and acts like a fishing rod.
Other fish are attracted to this lure and get eaten. Researchers stumbled across the bacteria while going through samples at night aboard one of the research vessels. They were examining specimens with a flashlight and noticed a strange light coming out of the water. The scientists have taken the samples to Mote's lab in Sarasota and are in the process of identifying the bacteria. They also don't know if the bacteria lives in the polyp or in the slimy surface mucus that covers the coral.
"They're incredibly spectacular," Ritchie said. "They light up the corner of my lab, when the lights are out ..... It's eerie."
Another interesting find that perplexed scientists was the discovery of a field of wispy, fragile calcium carbonate tubes created by segmented worms. The worms build the tubes for shelter. The tubes line the sea floor 250 feet down. The tubes are so delicate that propulsion from the submersible thrusters uprooted some branches and blew them about the sea bottom.
The tubes are created by small animals scientists speculate are polychaetes, an invertebrate that creates the hollow calcium-carbonate as a form of protection. The creature has small, feather-like tentacles that grab passing plankton and other small animals as meals.
"They may be a new species. I have never heard of this type of worm being discovered in the Gulf regions," scientist David Guggenheim said.
Scientists are concerned about the fragile reef and some want the government to set it aside as a no-fishing zone and tighten up restrictions on anchoring and trawling. The area was mapped so scientists could identify the most sensitive sections, which could be damaged by trawling gear or anchors.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council last year created new fishing gear regulations for 104 square nautical miles surrounding Pulley Ridge. The council also designated a larger area of roughly 2,300 square nautical miles as a "Habitat Area of Particular Concern." People fishing at Pulley Ridge cannot drop anchors, fish traps or lobster pots, or use trawling gear or bottom long lines.
Earle and Taylor said the time is now to start looking at placing even greater restrictions on the area. Earle said she realizes that there may be some opposition to this, but it is more important to protect the long-term health of this reef and the rest of the Gulf.
"Science should transcend politics," Earle said.