New Frontiers in Ocean Exploration: The E/V Nautilus 2014 Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Field Season

Cormier, Marie-Hélène; Blake, Ruth E.; Coleman, Dwight F.; Guerrier, Kelly; Saintilus, Nixon; Wagner, Jamie K.S.; Auscavitch, Steven

doi:10.5670/oceanog.2015.supplement.01

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The four study sites described in this paper host methane seeps and associated chemosynthetic communities. Furthermore, as previously concluded by Jollivet et al (1990) and Carey et al (2015), the abundance of methane gas plumes (85) detected in the limited EM302 water-column data (approximately 140 km 2 ) suggests that a large number of as yet undiscovered chemosynthetic communities populate this area east of Trinidad and Tobago (Figure 6). However, it cannot be concluded that each of these gas plumes represents a unique site.…”

Section: Stewardship Of the Deep Ocean Of Trinidad And Tobagomentioning

confidence: 55%

“…Methane seeps located on the deep slopes of Kick'em Jenny submarine volcano off Grenada may have at least seven species in common despite very different geology (Carey et al, 2014(Carey et al, , 2015. These include Alvinocaris cf.…”

Section: Biogeographical Comparisons With In the Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…"Mama D'Leau" and "La Diablesse" were chosen for exploration after the shipboard EM302 multibeam water-column data detected numerous strong bubble plumes emanating from circular dome-like structures and ridges in the area (Carey et al, 2015). CTD (temperature, salinity, depth) data were collected throughout the dives, as well as a temperature probe used to collect specific temperature measurements.…”

Section: Rov Surveys and Collectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This paper details the findings from the exploration of Trinidad and Tobago's deep ocean by Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). In 2014, E/V Nautilus, in collaboration with scientists from Trinidad and Tobago, visited two previously sampled (Jollivet et al, 1990;Olu et al, 1996), and two unexplored areas of the El Pilar site (Carey et al, 2015). Here we describe the chemosynthetic communities and ecotones associated with the two previously visited sites ("Dome 1" and "Dome 2") and the two new sites ("Mama D'Leau" and "La Diablesse"), including species richness, assemblage structure and ecological observations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characterization of Methane-Seep Communities in a Deep-Sea Area Designated for Oil and Natural Gas Exploitation Off Trinidad and Tobago

et al. 2017

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Exploration of the deep ocean (>200 m) is taking on added importance as human development encroaches. Despite increasing oil and natural gas exploration and exploitation, the deep ocean of Trinidad and Tobago is almost entirely unknown. The only scientific team to image the deep seafloor within the Trinidad and Tobago Exclusive Economic Zone was from IFREMER in the 1980s. That exploration led to the discovery of the El Pilar methane seeps and associated chemosynthetic communities on the accretionary prism to the east of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2014, the E/V Nautilus, in collaboration with local scientists, visited two previously sampled as well as two unexplored areas of the El Pilar site between 998 and 1,629 m depth using remotely operated vehicles. Eighty-three megafaunal morphospecies from extensive chemosynthetic communities surrounding active methane seepage were observed at four sites. These communities were dominated by megafaunal invertebrates including mussels (Bathymodiolus childressi), shrimp (Alvinocaris cf. muricola), Lamellibrachia sp. 2 tubeworms, and Pachycara caribbaeum. Adjacent to areas of active seepage was an ecotone of suspension feeders including Haplosclerida sponges, stylasterids and Neovermilia serpulids on authigenic carbonates. Beyond this were large Bathymodiolus shell middens. Finally there was either a zone of sparse octocorals and other nonchemosynthetic species likely benefiting from the carbonate substratum and enriched production within the seep habitat, or sedimented inactive areas. This paper highlights these ecologically significant areas and increases the knowledge of the biodiversity of the Trinidad and Tobago deep ocean. Because methane seepage and chemosynthetic communities are related to the presence of extractable oil and gas resources, development of best practices for the conservation of biodiversity in Trinidad and Tobago waters within the context of energy extraction is critical. Potential impacts on benthic communities during oil and gas activities will likely be long lasting and include physical disturbance during drilling among others. Recommendations for the stewardship of Amon et al.Seep Communities Off Trinidad and Tobago these widespread habitats include: (1) seeking international cooperation; (2) holding wider stakeholder discussions; (3) adopting stringent environmental regulations; and (4) increasing deep-sea research to gather crucial baseline data in order to conduct appropriate marine spatial planning with the creation of marine protected areas.

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Section: Stewardship Of the Deep Ocean Of Trinidad And Tobagomentioning

confidence: 55%

Section: Biogeographical Comparisons With In the Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rov Surveys and Collectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characterization of Methane-Seep Communities in a Deep-Sea Area Designated for Oil and Natural Gas Exploitation Off Trinidad and Tobago

et al. 2017

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“…At the end of May, we began the long transit through the Gulf, Caribbean Sea, and Panama Canal, and on to the Galápagos Islands, where we began a series of Basic Exploration cruises in regions identified as high priority target areas during the 2014 Eastern Pacific Workshop (Bell et al, 2015). On the Galápagos Platform, we explored several seamounts and submarine flanks of the larger islands in order to characterize their deepwater biological communities and also examined the geological formations that make up the foundation of the Galápagos archipelago (pages 32-34).…”

Section: Artist-at-sea Programmentioning

confidence: 99%