HR: 16:00h
AN: OS52J-07    [PDF]
TI: Deep Coral Bank Fishes on the Southeastern United States Slope: Is There a Deep Water Primary Reef Ichthyofauna
AU: * Ross, S W
EM: rosss@uncw.edu
AF: University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin Moss Ln, Wilmington, NC 28409 United States
AU: Sulak, K J
EM: ken\_sulak@usgs.gov
AF: US Geological Service, Biological Resources Division, 7920 NW 71 St., Gainesville, FL 32653 United States
AU: Nizinski, M S
EM: nizinski.martha@nmnh.si.edu
AF: National Marine Fisheries Service Systematics Lab, P.O. Box 37012, NHB, WC-57, MRC-153, Washington, DC 20013 United States
AB: Deep coral banks, composed mostly of Lophelia pertusa, occur in scattered patches off the Southeastern US (Cape Lookout through Florida) in depths of 350-700 m. Fish communities of these banks have not been described. Also, the affinity of fishes for reef habitat in the deep sea is not well understood. From 2000-2003 we surveyed the fishes of deep coral banks off North Carolina and South Carolina using a research submersible and bottom trawls. In addition to documenting species composition, relative abundance, and size structure of fishes on and near the coral habitat, another objective was to determine to what extent deep sea fishes are obligate (primary) reef fishes. Lophelia coral banks on the continental slope off the southeastern USA support a distinctive fish assemblage compared to non-coral habitats of similar depths. Thus far, we have identified over 65 fish species on the coral banks. Numerically dominant species observed from this habitat include Laemonema melanurum, Hoplostethus occidentalis, and Helicolenus dactylopterus. Economically important species observed on coral banks include Polyprion americanus (wreckfish) and Helicolenus dactylopterus (black-bellied rosefish). Several species, such as Laemonema melanurum, Squalus asper, Hoplostethus occidentalis, and Beryx splendens, appear to be restricted to the coral habitat, and thus are primary reef fishes. Additionally, we have collected and/or observed several poorly known species on these banks (e.g., Idiastion kyphos, Physiculus karrerae, Scyliorhinus meadi, Ateleopus sp. and Lophiodes beroe). We believe that many of these fishes may have appeared to be rare because they prefer a habitat that is difficult to sample. Further collection and data analysis are expected to add species to this faunal assemblage.
DE: 4800 OCEANOGRAPHY: BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL
DE: 4815 Ecosystems, structure and dynamics
DE: 4880 Trophodynamics
DE: 9325 Atlantic Ocean
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2004 Ocean Sciences Meeting