Exploration and Research of Northern Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Natural and Artificial Hard-Bottom Habitats with Emphasis on Coral Communities: Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks—“Lophelia II”, Volume I: Technical Report.

摘要

This document represents TDI-Brooks' Final Report for the Lophelia II Project, Contract M08PC20038, issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (now the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [BOEM]) “Exploration and Research of Northern Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Natural and Artificial Hard Bottom Habitats with Emphasis on Coral Communities: Reef, Rigs, and Wrecks. This report provides detailed information regarding the five (5) cruises completed during the field operations phase, the study sites selection process and sites visited with full descriptions of the conditions encountered both physically and biologically. The analytical results from the research effort includes community structure using photomosaics, trophic studies, laboratory experiments with Lophelia pertusa, archaeology, educational outreach and analyses of a Lophelia mound piston core study and commercial fisheries impact on deepwater corals presented in 15 sections.