Acknowledgements Dana Dawson, McNair Director Kristy Cordero, STEM Graduate Extern The McNair...
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Acknowledgements Dana Dawson, McNair Director Kristy Cordero, STEM Graduate Extern The McNair Scholars Program Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management and
Acknowledgements Dana Dawson, McNair Director Kristy Cordero,
STEM Graduate Extern The McNair Scholars Program Bureau of Ocean
and Energy Management and NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration Methods
Subjects: 5-10 Lophelia nubbins collected using the ROV Jason
during the NOAA Lophelia II Expedition in October of 2010. The
corals were supported in PVC base by HoldFast Expoxy, held in a 120
gallon aquarium at 8- 9C and constant light conditions. Data
Collection: Hourly photographs were collected onto a Canon EOS 50D
with a 17-85mm lens using the Canon TC-80N3 intervalometer. Photos
exhibiting discoloration were AutoCorrected in Photoshop CS3, but
otherwise unaltered. In total, 2100+ images were manually evaluated
for the number of visible polyps, the visible presence of community
associates (such as benthic snails, tube worms, a squat lobster),
and the direction and distance moved by each motile organism
between slides. The data was assembled in an Excel spreadsheet and
will be subject to correlational analysis in MATLab. Regulation
Patterns in the Opening of Coral Polyps Chloe Glynn, Jay Lunden,
Erik Cordes Department of Biology, Temple University Philadelphia
Abstract Lophelia pertusa is a cold-water, reef-forming coral. The
colonies found in the deep benthos of the Gulf of Mexico represent
an important sea-floor ecosystem, as Lophelia reefs create
dimensionally complex habitats for a number of diverse taxa. Until
recently, in situ evaluation of these community structures was
limited by accessibility. As part of understanding the behavioral
relationships present in coral communities, hourly photographs of
Lophelia nubbins in aquaria have been since late August of 2011.
Preliminary analysis of these photographs suggests the coral polyps
diurnally regulate their patterns of opening. Background Over 1300
species have been discovered living on Lophelia reefs, with up to
34% of species suspected to be endemic. [1] This diversity is
believed to result from the complex, three-dimensional habitats
created by its branching skeleton, supporting a community structure
subject to unique interactions. [2] Although not currently
endangered, Lophelia is afforded a CITES II protection status,
indicating vulnerability to future extinction. Preliminary Results
Initial results indicate there is some regulated patterning to when
corals are active and visible. The polyps had a significant
observable response to feeding cycles and seem to exist on a
day/night cycle where the majority of activity is limited to the
evening and early morning hours. Discussion Although the polyps
display time-sensitive patterns of opening and closing, the
colonies sampled exist well below the photic zone in the Gulf of
Mexico. The residual, circadian schedule may indicate phylogenetic
history and relationship with tropical corals found in the photic
zone. Current testing indicates that several species of octocoral
now found in shallow waters originated and diversified in the
deep-sea before encroaching upon shallow ecosystems. [3] Future
Recommendations: Establish several week in situ reef observation
Determine phylogenetic histories for more coral species Expand
noninvasive exploration to document endemic species Limit off-shore
drilling until further assessment can be made References
[1]Roberts, J.M., Wheeler, A.J., Freiwald, A., 2006. Reefs of the
Deep: The Biology and Geology of Cold-Water Coral Ecosystems.
Science. 312, 543-547. [2] Roberts, J.M., 2005. Reef-aggregating
behaviour by symbiotic eunicid polychaetes from cold-water corals:
do worms assemble reefs? J. Mar. Bio. Ass. U.K.. 85, 813-819. [3]
Lindner A, Cairns SD, Cunningham CW (2008) From Offshore to
Onshore: Multiple Origins of Shallow-Water Corals from Deep-Sea
Ancestors. PLoS ONE 3(6): e2429.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002429