Marine Institute
SeaRover Dive Video

D675 Transect 26 Mainly muddy slope. Towards the end of the first video and second video, extended areas of Solenosmilia variabilis reef host many epifauna including isididae corals and lamellate sponges. P2. Water depth: 1177m. Feature: Steep canyon wall

Highlights: Sea urchin? Orange roughy Blue ray - Neoraja caerulea Crab - Neolithodes grimaldi, octopus Flytrap anemone - Actinoscyphidae sp. 1 Solenosmilia reef Jasonisis coral with line entangled Bamboo coral - Acanella

Of note: Solenosmilia reef, octocorals, numerous orange roughy..

Initially there is soft sediment, transitioning to coral rubble and then Solenosmilia reef (50% living). Fish include grenadiers, eels, chimerids and numerous orange roughy. Sea pens are noted amongst the coral rubble and a variety of soft corals are also present on the reef. A field of the bamboo coral Acanella arbuscula is observed towards the end of the dive which was sampled.

START VIDEO A [00:00:00]/12:47. Mainly muddy slope. Towards the end of the first video and second video, extended areas of Solenosmilia variabilis reef host many epifauna including isididae corals and lamellate sponges. [00:01:00] ROV is on the seafloor and it samples two pushcores. The dive starts on a moderate inclined slope, mainly muddy sediment with sparse epifauna. [00:11:00] A few individuals of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) spotted on muddy slopes. [00:47:00] Here orange roughy is encountered very frequently. [01:26:00] A few colonies of Solenosmilia variabilis. [01:30:00] Here, S. variabilis reef is present and well-spread. A variety of epifauna has been observed, including Actinostolidae sp., Acanthogorgia sp. and Jasonisis sp. . [00:05:00] Encounter of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus). [00:42:27] Plastic sheet on sea floor. [00:48:00] A population of orange roughy here. [01:30:00] Rubbish (plastic/can). [01:40:00] Solenosmilia variabilis reef with variety of epifauna living on it, including Acanthogorgia sp. , glass sponges and Actinostolidae sp. . [01:48:00] ROV stops for sampling Chrysogorgiidae sp.. END VIDEO 14:39. START VIDEO B [01:52:00]/14:39. Coral framework area continues here. A variety of epifauna found on coral reef, including Jasonisis sp. . [02:05:00] Here a patchy colony of sea pens encountered and interfere with Ceriantharia. [02:35:00] Fields of Acanella arbuscula co-habit with foraminifera on muddy slope. END VIDEO [02:44:00]/15:26.

Progression Start Duration Code Name
1[00:00:00]01:27:28M.AtLB.MuAtlantic lower bathyal mud
3[00:00:00]00:05:30M.AtLB.Bi.CorRee.SolFraMixed coral assemblage on Atlantic lower bathyal Solenosmilia reef framework (biogenic structure)
4[00:05:31]00:01:47M.AtLB.Mu.EreCorErect coral field on Atlantic lower bathyal mud
5[00:07:19]00:02:57M.AtLB.Bi.CorRee.SolFraMixed coral assemblage on Atlantic lower bathyal Solenosmilia reef framework (biogenic structure)
6[00:10:17]00:02:52M.AtLB.Bi.CorRee.SolFraMixed coral assemblage on Atlantic lower bathyal Solenosmilia reef framework (biogenic structure)
7[00:13:10]00:29:16M.AtLB.Mu.EreCorErect coral field on Atlantic lower bathyal mud
8[00:42:27]00:09:41M.AtLB.Mu.EreCor.AcaArbAcanella arbuscula assemblage on Atlantic lower bathyal mud
2[01:27:29]00:25:05M.AtLB.Bi.CorReeAtlantic lower bathyal cold water coral reef (biogenic structure)

Foraminifera
Syringammina fragilissima : 261 : R
Porifera
Aphrocallistes beatrix : 264 : R
cf. Phakellia ventilabrum : 202 : C
Porifera encrusting globose (pale) : 75 : R
Porifera lamellate (Hexactinosida) : 1151 : R
Porifera lamellate sp. 10 (Yellow Solenosmilia assoc.) : 623 : R
Porifera massive lobose sp. 32 : 1090 : R
Cnidaria
Cerianthidae sp. 1 : 2 : F
Pachycerianthus multiplicatus : 458 : R
Actiniaria sp. 20 : 605 : R
cf. Halcampoididae sp. : 984 : R
Sagartidae sp. (wide oral disc) : 1118 : R
Actinernus michaelsarsi : 554 : R
Actinoscyphiidae sp. 1 (pink) : 1047 : R
Actinoscyphiidae sp. 1 (pink) : 1047 : C
Actinostolidae sp. 1 : 132 : R
Phelliactis sp. 1 : 255 : R
Caryophyllia sp. 2 : 6 : R
Caryophyllia sp. 5 (bullseye) : 584 : R
Solenosmilia variabilis : 700 : C
Flabellum sp. : 1056 : R
Epizoanthus sp. 1 (Paguridae associated) : 317 : R
Acanthogorgia granulata : 544 : R
Acanthogorgia cf. armata : 608 : F
Chrysogorgidae sp. 1 : 1008 : R
Acanella arbuscula : 585 : F

Eknomisis sp. : 649 : R
Paramuricea sp. : 1050 : O
Gorgonacea sp. (pink, Solenosmilia assoc.) (Jasonisis) : 1070 : C
Halipteris cf. finmarchica : 622 : R
Kophobelemnon stelliferum : 442 : R
Pennatula aculeata : 1046 : R
Umbellula sp. : 581 : R
Arthropoda
Chirostylidae sp. 2 (indet.) : 1054 : R
Neolithodes grimaldii : 1063 : O
Munida tenuimana : 339 : R
Caridea (indet.) : 1077 : R
Colossendeis sp. 1 : 1059 : R
Cirripedia sp. 2 : 1209 : R
Mollusca
Muusoctopus johnsonianus : 1194 : R
Graneledone sp. 1 : 937 : R
Echinodermata
Pentametrocrinus atlanticus : 436 : R
Koehlermetra porrecta : 315 : R
Crinoidea sp. 1 : 131 : R
Ophiomusa lymani : 551 : R
Brisingidae sp. : 274 : R
Zoroaster fulgens : 988 : R
Pseudarchaster sp. 1 : 433 : R
cf. Henricia sp. (deep) : 1154 : R
Pterasteridae sp. : 1115 : R
cf. Histocidaris purpurata (deep) : 1092 : R
Hygrosoma sp. : 1125 : R

Phormosoma placenta : 555 : R
cf. Benthogone sp. (white) : 574 : R
Holothuroidea sp. (pink deep) : 1179 : R
Chordata
Ascidiacea sp. (clear) : 591 : C
Galeus sp. : 1305 : R
Rajiformes sp. 1 (Neoraja caerulea?) : 652 : R
Hydrolagus cf. affinis : 1039 : R
Chimaera monstrosa : 265 : R
Chimaera opalescens : 653 : R
Harriotta raleighana : 936 : R
Synaphobranchus kaupii : 440 : R
Hoplostethus atlantica : 651 : F
Nezumia aequalis : 1003 : R
Coryphaenoides guentheri : 577 : R
Coryphaenoides rupestris : 566 : R
Trachyrincus sp. : 446 : R
Lepidion eques : 249 : R
Guttigadus latifrons : 1166 : R
Polyacanthonotus rissoanus : 552 : R
Notacanthiformes sp. 1 : 1012 : R
Cataetyx laticeps : 1111 : R
Zoarcidae sp. 1 : 259 : R
Neocyttus helgae : 563 : R
Actinopterygii sp. 3 : 930 : R

Number of species = 76

© Marine Institute, MERC Consultants, Bernard Picton 2022