Jewels of the Gulf: Deep-sea Coral Educational Video Series

– DECEMBER 27, 2017

Paragorgia species of coral (“bubble gum coral”) photographed in the Gulf of Mexico June 2017. Photo courtesy of ECOGIG

What are deep-sea corals?  Why are researchers conducting studies on their health? What type of equipment do scientists use to conduct research at the deep ocean seafloor?

The research and outreach teams with ECOGIG developed three videos that answer these questions and more about Gulf of Mexico coral. The ECOGIG team developed these videos as part of their 12-day science expedition on the exploration vessel Ocean Intervention II earlier this year. Scientists on this expedition were continuing their multi-year investigations on how oil, gas, and chemical dispersants affect marine life and their environment after the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The videos include footage of coral taken by high-resolution cameras mounted on a remotely operated vehicle and interviews with chief scientist Dr. Iliana Baums, Dr. Charles Fisher, Fanny Girard, and Cherisse Du Preez (Pennsylvania State University); Alexis Weinnig (Temple University); Dr. Amanda Demopolous (US Geological Survey); and Dr. Santiago Herrera (Leigh University).

Read what scientists are learning about deep-sea corals since the Deepwater Horizon incident:

• Study Shows Extended Footprint of Oil Spill Impact on Corals
• Study Suggests Brittle Stars Limited Deepwater Horizon Impacts on Deep Sea Corals
• Study Describes Functional Diversity of Oil-Degrading Microbes in Coral and Sediment

Read more about coral research and the people who study them:

• Visit the ECOGIG website and Facebook page
• Science at Sea: Researchers Monitor Marine Ecosystems Near Deepwater Horizon
• Grad Student Girard Uses High-Definition Imagery to Assess Post-Spill Coral Recovery
• Grad Student Dannenberg is Unlocking Mysteries of Deepwater Coral Communities

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This research was made possible in part by a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to the Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf-2 (ECOGIG-2) consortium.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2017 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).