gov.noaa.ncei.oer:LifeontheEdge2005 eng; USA utf8 collectionSession collection-level metadata NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact 2026-03-23T19:41:29 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009 Continental Slope Coral Banks of the Southeastern United States: Exploring the Distribution, Ecology, and Biology of Deep Coral Habitats and Associated Fauna 2005 2005 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/oer-digital-atlas/mapsOE.htm OER Digital Atlas information pointOfContact Deep coral habitats are more extensive and important than previously known, and at the same time they are being threatened. These high profile features may concentrate exploitable resources and enhance local productivity in ways similar to seamounts, but this has not yet been explored. Even though hypotheses have been posed on how coral banks form, data are lacking. Live coral ages and growth rates are poorly known in this area, and ages of coral mounds or dead coral stands are also limited or equivocal. The degree to which there is an obligate deep coral fauna is unclear. While the genetic structure of Lophelia in the northeastern Atlantic is being described, such studies are just beginning in the western Atlantic. It is for these reasons that locating, describing, and mapping deep corals and conducting basic biological studies in these habitats are priorities for our research. On our previous cruises, we have documented deep coral and outer shelf reef habitats and associated biota. However, these missions have only begun to quantify this extensive habitat off the southeastern US (SEUS). Our studies have also yielded many new records of biota, new ecological data, new data on habitat distributions/structures, and data on water column trophic connectivity. This cruise continues and expands our explorations of these unique and relatively unknown deep-water habitats. Objectives are: to locate and sample poorly studied middle slope coral banks (Lophelia mostly, 360-800 m) from Cape Lookout, NC to southeastern FL (see Mission Plan) over 650 nautical miles (1,205 km); to use a manned submersible (Johnson-Sea-Link, JSL) to quantify biota and habitat on and near reefs via standardized video observations; to collect samples of corals and associated invertebrates for various purposes; to sample the whole water column using a variety of ship deployed nets. Dr. Steve W. Ross University of North Carolina at Wilmington Research Associate Professor 910-395-3905 Center for Marine Science 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane Wilmington NC 28409 USA rosss@uncw.edu principalInvestigator https://data.noaa.gov/docucomp/image/5abab464-7994-49fc-8a2f-ec337a11bfd4 NOAA logo PNG EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2025 revision 22 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Ocean Exploration deep coral coral banks lophelia outer shelf reef trophic connectivity theme expedition exploration explorer marine education noaa ocean ocean discovery ocean education ocean exploration ocean exploration and research ocean literacy ocean research science scientific research sea stewardship systematic exploration technology transformational research undersea underwater theme North Atlantic Ocean North Carolina Coast Florida Atlantic Coast place otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Data use shall be credited to NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. No data access constraints, unless data are protected under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. eng; USA oceans -79.5833333333 -75.6666666667 26.6666666667 34.3333333333 2005-10-16 2005-11-04 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05coralbanks/welcome.html asNeeded