HR: 16:15h
AN: OS52J-08    [PDF]
TI: Preliminary Observations on the Diversity of the Invertebrate Fauna Associated With {\it Lophelia} Banks off North Carolina
AU: * Nizinski, M S
EM: nizinski.martha@nmnh.si.edu
AF: NOAA/NMFS Systematics Laboratory , Smithsonian Institution PO Box 37012 NHB, WC-57, MRC-153 , Washington, DC 20013-7012 United States
AU: Ross, S W
EM: rosss@uncw.edu
AF: Center for Marine Science University of North Carolina-Wilmington, 5600 Masonboro Loop Road, Wilmington, NC 28409 United States
AU: Sulak, K J
EM: ken\_sulak@usgs.gov
AF: US Geological Survey, Biological Resources, 7920 NW 71st St., Gainesville, FL 32653 United States
AB: Extensive reefs of {\it Lophelia pertusa} occur on the middle continental slope (350-700 m) of the Blake Plateau off the southeastern United States. Submersible observations revealed that these deep reefs support a diverse fish and invertebrate community. Preliminary analysis of data from collections, still photos, and videotapes to assess the invertebrate fauna associated with these deep reefs indicates that crustaceans and echinoderms are the numerically dominant components of the invertebrate fauna. Additionally, for some invertebrate taxa, species diversity is relatively low, however, numerical abundance of a particular species can be very high. For example, four species of galatheid crabs have been identified to date. One of these species, {\it Eumunida picta}, is a conspicuous and dominant member of the {\it Lophelia} associated fauna, while other galatheids are represented by few specimens. Community structure of these reefs remains poorly studied. However, several habitats (e.g., living coral, dead coral, coral rubble, sand) within the reef system have been identified. Aspects of the reef associated invertebrate assemblage observed at the North Carolina sites with regard to habitat utilization will be discussed and compared with that reported for associated invertebrate fauna observed at other {\it Lophelia} reefs in the Atlantic. Whether species within this community are unique to reef habitats, or are species of more widespread distribution that utilize reefs opportunistically, is still largely unknown. We will attempt to assess whether {\it Lophelia} reefs function as a primary habitat for these invertebrates, or if these reefs function only as alternative habitat that is occupied opportunistically by these species.
DE: 4815 Ecosystems, structure and dynamics
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2004 Ocean Sciences Meeting