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NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration Quick Look Report

Expedition Title: \_\_Northwest Hawaiian Island Expedition - Leg 2
(Deep-sea corals)

+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Results (please  | Details (please describe any novel discoveries in |
| check all        | the discipline, answers such as "possible,        |
| disciplines in   | awaiting data analysis" and "no apparent          |
| which this       | discoveries" are acceptable)                      |
| cruise collected |                                                   |
| data)            |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Bathymetric      | (please note total area mapped and technology     |
| Mapping          | employed, e.g. multibeam, side scan, etc.)        |
|                  |                                                   |
| x Yes  No       | A total of 66 multibeam bathymetric sonar surveys |
|                  | were carried out during leg 2 of the NWHI cruise. |
|                  | Of these, 12 different submerged banks or atolls  |
|                  | were studied from Bank 11 (Helsley Seamount) to   |
|                  | Necker Island. Of the 66 surveys accomplished, 22 |
|                  | were site surveys prior to submersible or ROV     |
|                  | dives, 36 were ROV tracking, and 8 were transit   |
|                  | surveys. The necessity for mapping dive sites was |
|                  | somewhat relieved by surveys from                 |
|                  | *Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa* (KoK) in previous years and |
|                  | by the large amount of mapping data acquired by   |
|                  | *Kilo Moana* in 2002. There is no easy way to     |
|                  | accurately estimate the area mapped as most       |
|                  | surveys were of odd shape or consisted of         |
|                  | individual swaths through a rectangle of          |
|                  | coordinates reported in the EIS. We used a        |
|                  | *SeaBeam 210* multibeam bathymetric system that   |
|                  | does not collect coincident amplitude or sidescan |
|                  | data. Data were collected for submersible/ROV     |
|                  | site surveys at new remote locations with         |
|                  | previously no existing multibeam data as well as  |
|                  | at sites partially mapped during past *KoK* and   |
|                  | *Kilo Moana* expeditions. The additional data     |
|                  | will be used to fill in gaps and extend the       |
|                  | coverage outward.                                 |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| New Species      | (please note number, type, and significance ,i.e. |
| Discovered       | radically new vs. slight adaptation of known      |
|                  | species)                                          |
| x Yes  No       |                                                   |
|                  | We collected at least 16 species that are new to  |
|                  | science, including at least 2 new genera. It is   |
|                  | likely we may find more new species among our     |
|                  | collections, particularly sponges, but this will  |
|                  | require additional post-cruise processing.        |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | We collected 8 new species of Octocorals, 1 new   |
|                  | Zoanthid, 3 new Stylasterids, 3 new               |
|                  | Antipatharians, and 1 new crinoid.                |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Bio-prospecting  | (please note number, type, and potential use of   |
|                  | new compounds discovered)                         |
|  Yes x No       |                                                   |
|                  | No marine bio-prospecting was conducted because   |
|                  | this was not a component of our studies.          |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Habitat Range    | (please note species discovered in new habitats   |
| Extended         | and how far from previous range were they found0  |
|                  |                                                   |
| x Yes  No       | It is likely we will extend the range of several  |
|                  | species, but this will require additional         |
|                  | post-cruise processing.                           |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Chemical         | (please note new or unusual chemical properties   |
| Processes        | such as methane seeps, hypersaline pools, vents,  |
|                  | etc. observed)                                    |
|  Yes x No       |                                                   |
|                  | No marine chemical properties were measured       |
|                  | because this was not a component of our studies.  |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Geologic         | (please note new or unusual geologic processes    |
| Processes        | that may impact scientific understanding of the   |
|                  | region)                                           |
| x Yes  No       |                                                   |
|                  | Results from studies on the rock and carbonate    |
|                  | samples collected are presently undergoing        |
|                  | chemical analysis. We collected a suite of basalt |
|                  | and fossil reef samples, most of which are coated |
|                  | by a layer of cobalt-rich manganese crust. One    |
|                  | goal of the project was to determine the          |
|                  | substrate preference of the benthic organisms.    |
|                  | Though it will require more thorough analysis of  |
|                  | the video records, it appears that the location   |
|                  | and abundance of filter feeders is more dependent |
|                  | on steep and sediment-free terrain with high      |
|                  | current flow than the composition of the          |
|                  | substrate. We were also able to map and dive on   |
|                  | submarine volcanic features below the level of    |
|                  | the carbonate cap that resemble those in the much |
|                  | younger Main Hawaiian Islands.                    |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Physical         | (please note new or unusual oceanographic         |
| Processes        | processes that may impact scientific              |
|                  | understanding of the region)                      |
|  Yes x No       |                                                   |
|                  | Physical properties of the water column were not  |
|                  | the principal focus of our study. However, we did |
|                  | record water temperature from the submersibles    |
|                  | and estimated current speed and direction from    |
|                  | the submersibles and ROV.                         |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Sub/ROV/AUV      | (please note name, type, and cumulative hours of  |
| Dives            | bottom time for each platform / if available      |
|                  | please provide average working time per dive for  |
| x Yes  No       | each platform / please note if new depth records  |
|                  | were set)                                         |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | We completed 22 submersible dives with the Pisces |
|                  | V and 36 dives with the ROV RCV-150. No new depth |
|                  | records were set. The total bottom time for the   |
|                  | Pisces was 141.1 hrs. The bottom time for the RCV |
|                  | was 44.28 hours.                                  |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| New Technology   | (please note any new tools developed for or       |
|                  | during this cruise, also identify first use of an |
|  Yes x No       | existing technology in a new application)         |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Maritime         | (please note discoveries impacting knowledge of   |
| Cultural         | the past, i.e. number and type of shipwrecks)     |
| Heritage         |                                                   |
|                  |                                                   |
|  Yes x No       |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Outreach         | (please describe outreach channels, e.g. web,     |
|                  | port call, etc., used in this project)            |
| x Yes  No       |                                                   |
|                  | This project received summary coverage by the OE  |
|                  | web site. We also participated in the OE port     |
|                  | call event at the end of the cruise which hosted  |
|                  | 255 students from 4 schools. Our research was     |
|                  | highlighted in the 2 main local newspapers and by |
|                  | all 4 of the local TV channels. Additionally, 2   |
|                  | of the PIs discussed the cruise results on a      |
|                  | local morning talk show the day following the PR  |
|                  | day event.                                        |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Students         | (please note the number and level of students on  |
| Involved         | the expedition)                                   |
|                  |                                                   |
| x Yes  No       | One graduate student participated in the cruise   |
|                  | from the University of Alaska Fairbanks as well   |
|                  | as one recently graduated undergraduate from UVA. |
|                  | The latter former student was subsequently hired  |
|                  | on this grant to work on analyzing and logging    |
|                  | the videos and sample preparation for the Co-PI's |
|                  | at the University of Hawaii.                      |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| M                | (please identify the formal disciplines           |
| ultidisciplinary | represented in the science party)                 |
|                  |                                                   |
| x Yes  No       | Geology, marine ecology, invertebrate taxonomy,   |
|                  | molecular biology, GIS, ichthyology.              |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Exploration of   | (please note if the area of operations had been   |
| New Regions      | previously studied, if so please check no and     |
|                  | approximate as slight, moderate or significant,   |
| x Yes  No       | the level of knowledge before the cruise)         |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | None of our dive sites had ever been visited with |
|                  | a submersible, ROV or towed camera prior to this  |
|                  | cruise. Some of the more remote sites had no      |
|                  | detailed modern seafloor mapping data whatsoever. |
|                  | The sparse soundings on existing nautical charts  |
|                  | were probably from the 1930's era.                |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+

Ocean Exploration Quick Look Report Required Elements

The Office of Ocean Exploration (OE) does not require a specific Quick
Look Report format. Reports submitted under other requirements (e.g.
Cruise Summary Report (CSR) or Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated
Investigations (FOCI)) are acceptable. In all cases Quick Look Reports
submitted to OE should contain the following elements:

**Project title** (as listed in original proposal)

1\. Reproductive Biology and Population Genetics of Precious Corals in
the Hawaiian Archipelago

2\. Seamount Surveys of Deep-Water Coral Distributions as Related to
Geologic Setting in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

**Principal Investigator and institution** (as listed in original
proposal)

1\. Amy Baco-Taylor, WHOI; Timothy Shank, WHOI

2\. Amy Baco-Taylor, WHOI; Timothy Shank, WHOI; John Smith, HURL;
Christopher Kelley, HURL

**Expedition title** (working name of the cruise)

Northwest Hawaiian Island Expedition - Leg 2 (Deep-sea corals)

# Expedition dates and itinerary

Sept. 28-Nov. 5, 2003

Sept 28, Kure Atoll

Sept 29, Bank 10

Sept 30, Bank 11

Oct. 2, Nero Seamount

Oct. 3, Salmon Bank

Oct. 4, Bank 9

Oct. 5, Bank 8

Oct. 7, Pioneer Bank and Ridge

Oct. 14, SE Laysan Seamount

Oct. 24, Raita Bank,

Oc.t 31, E. Necker Seamount

Nov. 3, Twin Banks

# Chief Scientist and institution 

Amy Baco-Taylor, WHOI

# Co-sponsors / partners / participating organizations

See PI list above

Stephen Cairns -- Smithsonian Institution

**Vessel Identification** (if applicable)

Ka\`imikai - O - Kanaloa

# Embarked vehicles, sensors, and tools of significance

Pisces V submersible

RCV-150 ROV

SeaBeam 210 multibeam bathymetric mapping system

**Geographic area of operations** (identify common name such as North
West Hawaiian Islands as well as boundary coordinates for the area)

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from Bank 11 to Twin Banks.

28.87^o^N --179.58^o^W

28.87^o^N --163.00^o^W

23.26^o^N --179.58^o^W

23.26^o^N --163.00^o^W

# Summary of Cruise Objectives

Explore for new precious coral beds; Collect samples of precious corals
and preserve for genetic studies and reproductive biology; Supplemental
mapping of NWHI dive sites; Collect basalt samples for geologic studies
of rock chemistry, age, and formation of seamounts; Examine distribution
of coral species within and among seamounts; Collect voucher specimens
of deep-sea corals for taxonomic identifications.

**Summary of Cruise Operations** (A good summary would identify as many
of the following elements as possible for each "operation." Table
formats are ideal for this aspect of the report: data type collected /
time / position / ID tag /operation type /dive tracklines / depth
/comments)

All dives were multipurpose in nature, i.e., specimens were collected
for both reproductive biology and genetics on the precious coral dives
and invertebrate and rock specimens were collected on the seamount
dives. Precious coral dives were conducted at depths of 300-600m until
corals were found and then were concentrated in the precious coral beds.
Dives on seamounts were made to 600, 1200, or 1800 m target depths;
vertical transects were also used. Generally, dives began deeper,
proceeded to the target depth, conducted transects, then moved to
shallower depths. Two transects of between 500 m to 1 km in length were
conducted at a depth contour with digital video and audio recordings of
observations. Rock, coral and other biota were collected before and
after transecting. Each selected coral was photographed, then had either
the entire coral (if small) collected, or a subsample placed into a
numbered biobox or jar for return to the surface. The position, time,
depth, temperature and collection box for each sample was retained in
spreadsheets. Detailed descriptions of the collections and observations
made during each dive were submitted by scientific observers via EIS
Situation Reports. Tracklines of each dive were overlain on the
multibeam bathymetric maps produced in GIS. Seabeam surveys were carried
out as time allowed at night or on survey/weather/transit days.

[]{.mark}

**Milestones Achieve** (This section of the report should amplify the
information provided in the official OE cover sheet summary of results)

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We discovered at least 4-5 new beds of precious corals. An estimated 87
coral species were collected and identified from 22 dives made on 3
seamounts and 5 precious coral beds. This covers about 2/3 of the known
species of deep-water corals in the Hawaiian Archipelago as well as a
large number of species new to science. Coral voucher specimens were
provided to the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian
Institution for all coral species. We also collected other invertebrate
fauna including sponges and crinoids, and invertebrates associated with
the corals including ophiuroids, galathaeid crabs and crinoids. One of
the crinoids is a new genus of crinoid. Additional identifications of
invertebrates and corals may yield new species following post-cruise
processing. 71 rocks were collected for geological studies. Detailed
mapping of the study area has filled in some gaps in survey coverage
from the previous *Kilo Moana* mapping in 2002.

[]{.mark}

# Sample log entries

N/A

**Summary of Digital Data Collected** (Identify volume in MB/GB/TB etc.
and type of data collected. Be as explicit as possible, e.g. identify
high definition video as opposed to simply video.)

PV: Total number of 1-hr mini-DV tapes=104;

Total number of 2-hr DVCAM tapes=78

ROV: Total number of 1-hr mini-DV tapes=65

SeaBeam: One data CD containing all bathymetric data for cruise

[]{.mark}

# Summary of outreach and educational activities

A NOAA Ocean Explorer Web site that includes background essays, and post
cruise summaries have been developed. Two university students, including
1 graduate student and 1 recently graduated baccalaureate participated
in the cruise. Each of these students had their first 3 submersible
dives in the Pisces and Stephen Cairns had his first 3 Pisces dives as
well. Our research was highlighted in the 2 main local newspapers and by
every local TV channel. Additionally, 2 of the PIs discussed the cruise
results on a local morning talk show the day following the PR day event.
Finally, all coral specimens have been deposited in the Smithsonian
Institution.