34
days at sea
6
CTD casts
44,745
Km² mapped
21
ROV dives
600
specimens collected
DISCOVERING DEEP SEA CORALS
OF THE PHOENIX ISLANDS 2
#PhoenixIslandsCoral
06/05/2021 – 07/08/2021
Honolulu, HI, USA
Chief Scientist: Dr. Randi Rotjan
Co-Chief Scientists: Dr. Tim Shank and Dr. Jonathan Kagan
Boston University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Conservation International, NOAA Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, United States Geological Survey (USGS), USFW Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, Republic of Kiribati, Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust
Expedition objectives
Map, explore, and characterize new seamounts in the high seas
Characterize, identify, and describe deepwater corals, sponges, and their inter-species associates, predators, and surrounding microbes in the environment
Investigate deepwater coral and sponge immune responses and possibility for infection
Corallivory is the term for predation upon live corals. While corals usually survive these interactions, they are left with open wounds, and little is known about how deep sea corals’ immune systems respond to wound infliction. The science team began the expedition brimming with questions about deep sea microbes and how ancient cold-water corals survive predation by corallivores. The team also sought to understand mechanisms and patterns of coral associates.
Another fundamental component of the expedition was mapping, exploring, and characterizing new seamounts in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ), the Howland and Baker unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM), and the U.S. exclusive economic zone surrounding the Howland and Baker unit. Prior to the expedition, this area was the least explored and least mapped part of the U.S. marine protected areas.
The expedition conducted the first ever comprehensive survey of deep sea coral and sponge predation to investigate how corals respond to grazing scars and wounding. A series of novel experiments were conducted onboard R/V Falkor to determine how the immune systems of corals and sponges reacted to a variety of different microbial stimuli.
The results of this research will be multi-faceted and will make important contributions to the understanding of deep sea ecology, deepwater biogeography, and conservation in the equatorial Pacific.
The mapping, visual data, and new research conducted on the expedition will be helpful to Marine National Monument managers as they develop management plans and priorities in the coming decade. Additionally, research in ABNJ sites may contribute to the justification for international ABNJ conservation and management.
In addition to achieving all the team’s goals and objectives, the scientists also characterized water samples for microbial diversity and eDNA analysis. They collected rocks for the U.S. Geological Survey to characterize the crusts and give geological insight into seamount age and formation. They also were able to construct photomosaics to provide 3D spatial context and enable spatial analysis, and scan and print several deep sea corals.
Generated the largest deepwater microbial culture collection from the Central Pacific Ocean.
Documented over 10 associations (species pairs) between corals and other invertebrates that had not been documented or published prior to this expedition.
Mapped five new seamounts in ABNJ and five new seamounts within the US EEZ surrounding the Howland and Baker unit of the PRIMNM.
Created a new piece of experimental ROV Equipment: the “Coral Push Popinator 3000” – designed by the SOI ROV team and deployed twice in the deep sea.
