Laemonema melanurum Laemonema barbatulum

Helicolenus dactylopterus

Pontinus rathbuniIdiastion kyphos

Neomerinthe hemingwayi

Table 2. Dominant species by habitat from submersible video data.

REEF

Beryx decadactylusHelicolenus dactylopterusLaemonema melanurumHoplostethus occidentalisConger oceanicusLaemonema barbatulumNettenchelys exoriaPolyprion americanusIdiastion kyphosMyxine glutinosa

TRANS-REEF

Laemonema barbatulumHelicolenus dactylopterusLaemonema melanurumMyxine glutinosaScyliorhinus

retifer

Polyprion americanusBreviraja

plutonia

OFF-REEF

Chlorophthalmus agassiziMerluccius albidusBreviraja plutoniaLaemonema barbatulumMyxine glutinosaHelicolenus dactylopterusNezumia aequalis

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSWe thank NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration for funding (S.W.Ross and K.J. Sulak, PIs)

COMMONLY OBSERVED SPECIES

Hoplostethus occidentalis

Beryx decadactylus

Fishes Associated with Deep Coral Banks off the CarolinasSteve W. Ross1, Kenneth J. Sulak2, and Andrea M. Quattrini1

1University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409 2United States Geological Survey, Coastal Ecology and Conservation Research Group, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653

Dysommina rugosa

Table 1. Species collected and observed at Lophelia banks in 2000-2003. Species in bold were observed with the submersible. (*) Denotes species collected with the otter trawl and (^) denotes species collected with submersible dispensed rotenone.

Family SpeciesAcropomatidae *Synagrops bellus

*Synagrops spinosus*Synagrops trispinosusSynagrops sp.

Argentinidae *Argentina striataAteleopididae *Ateleopus sp.Berycidae Beryx decadactylusBothidae *Hippoglossina oblongaBythitidae *Bythites gerdaeCallionymidaeCarangidae *Naucrates ductorCarcharhinidae Carcharhinus sp.Chaunacidae ^*Chaunax stigmaeusChlorophthalmidae ^*Chlorophthalmus agassiziCongridae Conger oceanicusDalatiidae *Etmopterus bullisiDraconettidae *Centrodraco acanthopomaEpigonidae *Epigonus pandionis

*Epigonus sp.Gadidae *Urophycis regia

*Urophycis tenuisGrammicolepidae *Xenolepidichthys dalgleishiLophiidae ^*Lophiodes beroe

^Lophiodes monodiMacrouridae *Unidentified

*Coelorhinchus coelorhinchus carminatusCoelorhinchus sp.*Malacocephalus occidentalis^Nezumia aequalis*Ventrifossa macropogon

Merluccidae *Merluccius albidusMobulidae Manta birostrisMoridae *Gadella imberbis

^*Laemonema barbatulumLaemonema melanurum

Family Species^*Physiculus karrerae

Myctophidae *Benthosema glaciale^*Diaphus dumerilii

Myxinidae ^*Myxine glutinosaNettastomatidae ^*Nettenchelys exoriaOgcocephalidae *Dibranchus atlanticusOphidiidae ^ Dicrolene intronigraPercichthyidae Polyprion americanusPeristediidae *Peristedion ecuadorense

*Peristedion greyaePhycidae *Phycis chesteriRajidae *Breviraja plutonia

*Breviraja sp.*Breviraja spinosa*Raja eglanteria*Raja laevis

Scorpaenidae ^*Helicolenus dactylopterus^Idiastion kyphos^Neomerinthe hemingwayi^Pontinus rathbuni^*Trachyscorpia cristulata cristulata

Scyliorhinidae *Scyliorhinus retiferScyliorhinus meadi

Serranidae Anthias sp.Setarchiidae *Setarches guentheriSqualidae ^Squalus asper

Squalus sp.Sternoptychidae ^Unidentified

^*Maurolicus muelleri^Polyipnus clarus

Synaphobranchidae ^*Dysommina rugosaSynaphobranchus sp.

Synodontidae Trachinocephalus myopsTrachichthyidae ^*Hoplostethus occidentalisZeidae Zenopsis conchifer

Chlorophthalmus agassizi

Scyliorhinus retifer

Polyprion americanus

Myxine glutinosa Nezumia aequalis

Breviraja plutonia

Conger oceanicus

Physiculus karrerae

NOTEWORTHY FISHES

Squalus asper

Scyliorhinus meadi

Lophiodes beroe

Ateleopus sp.

Synagrops trispinosus

Chaunax stigmaeusDorsal view

Some species that frequent Lophelia reef systems are vertical migrators, occurring at the bottom during the day and migrating toward the surface at night. We have collected various species, such as Polyipnus clarus, Benthosema glaciale, and Maurolicus muelleri, in both midwater and bottom habitats.

Deep coral banks occur along the southeastern United States slope in scattered patches in 350-800 m depth. These coral banks consist mostly of Lophelia pertusa, however, Madrepora occulata and other corals are also found scattered among the Lophelia. Deep coral banks can vary in size, profiles (up to 100 m), and coral density. These banks harbor a unique, diverse community; however, the fauna, especially fishes, is poorly described.

Lophelia pertusa

Madrepora occulata

OFF-REEF Low profile, relatively flat

slope, soft sediment dominant, occasional

rubble or debris, characteristic fauna

TRANSITION Variable but usually low profile, dead coral and other rubble – at times

dense, scattered areas of soft sediment, scattered

live coral bushes, attached invertebrates common, steep slopes

common

PRIME REEF Variable profile, dense

corals, high % live coral, sand channels

interspersed, usually on/near tops of mounds, abundant invertebrates

During 2000-2003 cruises, we collected and observed 63 species on and around Lophelia coral banks (366-639 m depth) off the Carolinas (Table 1). We conducted 15 tows with the otter trawl and 23 Johnson Sea Link submersible dives. From the submersible video data, we observed 15 dominant species in three different habitat types: prime reef, transition reef, and off reef (Table 2). We will continue sampling Lophelia reefs in 2004.

Polyipnus clarus

Maurolicus muelleri

Benthosema glaciale

Depth Sounder View of Lophelia Coral Bank