Effective management of marine resources begins with knowing the types, amounts, and spatial distribution of resources. Rigorously ground-truthed benthic habitat mapping using remote sensing data are interpreted into seafloor habitats, providing valuable information for management. In general, benthic habitats have been mapped in many coral reef ecosystems using a variety of techniques and data types,… Continue Reading Cryptic Coral Reefs in the Gulf
Some of the oldest known benthic marine organisms are black corals of genus Leopathes. These ancient deep-sea corals (Leiopathes spp.) are very slow-growing black coral species. In the Gulf, large colonies of the black coral Leiopathes glaberrima have been estimated to be over 2,000 years old. They are characterized by their black or dark brown… Continue Reading Ancient Deep-Sea Corals
Gulf council produced a set of pamphlets which highlights basic information about Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed corals from the Gulf of Mexico. You can view the pamphlets by clicking the image below or could download all of them from here. Don’t forget to check our ESA Coral Explorer Application to know where these corals… Continue Reading Endangered Corals from the Gulf of Mexico
Orange sea fans (Swiftia exserta) or red polyp octocoral are a type of gorgonians that belong to the group of non-photosynthetic cnidarian species. These sea fans occur throughout the west Atlantic in fairly deep (e.g., 60 to 1600 feet) and nutrient-rich waters along coastal areas with moderate currents. Colonies are fan-shaped with orange to red stem… Continue Reading Orange Sea Fans of the Deep
Understanding what corals need to survive is crucial to protect and conserve them, particularly in this time of changing climate. Improved knowledge of coral life histories, vulnerabilities, and threats aids managers. Additionally, such information can help the Council provide feedback when asked to weigh in on research recommendations for areas, species, or fisheries. New information… Continue Reading Threatened Corals in the Gulf of Mexico
