Laemonema melanurum Laemonema barbatulum Helicolenus dactylopterus Pontinus rathbuni Idiastion kyphos Neomerinthe hemingwayi Table 2. Dominant species by habitat from submersible video data. REEF Beryx decadactylus Helicolenus dactylopterus Laemonema melanurum Hoplostethus occidentalis Conger oceanicus Laemonema barbatulum Nettenchelys exoria Polyprion americanus Idiastion kyphos Myxine glutinosa TRANS-REEF Laemonema barbatulum Helicolenus dactylopterus Laemonema melanurum Myxine glutinosa Scyliorhinus retifer Polyprion americanus Breviraja plutonia OFF-REEF Chlorophthalmus agassizi Merluccius albidus Breviraja plutonia Laemonema barbatulum Myxine glutinosa Helicolenus dactylopterus Nezumia aequalis ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We 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 Carolinas Steve W. Ross 1 , Kenneth J. Sulak 2 , and Andrea M. Quattrini 1 1 University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409 2 United States Geological Survey, Coastal Ecology and Conservation Research Group, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies, 7920 NW 71 st 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 Species Acropomatidae *S ynagrops bellus *S ynagrops spinosus *S ynagrops trispinosus S ynagrops sp. Argentinidae *A rgentina striata Ateleopididae *A teleopus sp. Berycidae Beryx decadactylus Bothidae *Hippoglossina oblonga Bythitidae *Bythites gerdae Callionymidae Carangidae *Naucrates ductor Carcharhinidae Carcharhinus sp. C haunacidae ^*Chaunax stigmaeus Chlorophthalmidae ^*Chlorophthalmus agassizi Congridae Conger oceanicus Dalatiidae *E tmopterus bullisi Draconettidae *C entrodraco acanthopoma Epigonidae *E pigonus pandionis *E pigonus sp. Gadidae *Urophycis regia *Urophycis tenuis Grammicolepidae *X enolepidichthys dalgleishi Lophiidae ^*Lophiodes beroe ^Lophiodes monodi Macrouridae *U nidentified *C oelorhinchus coelorhinchus carminatus Coelorhinchus sp. *Malacocephalus occidentalis ^Nezumia aequalis *V entrifossa macropogon Merluccidae *Merluccius albidus Mobulidae Manta birostris Moridae *G adella imberbis ^*Laemonema barbatulum Laemonema melanurum Family Species ^*Physiculus karrerae Myctophidae *Benthosema glaciale ^*Diaphus dumerilii Myxinidae ^*Myxine glutinosa Nettastomatidae ^*Nettenchelys exoria Ogcocephalidae *Dibranchus atlanticus Ophidiidae ^ Dicrolene intronigra Percichthyidae Polyprion americanus Peristediidae *P eristedion ecuadorense *P eristedion greyae Phycidae *Phycis chesteri Rajidae *Breviraja plutonia *Breviraja sp. *Breviraja spinosa *R aja eglanteria *R aja laevis Scorpaenidae ^*Helicolenus dactylopterus ^Idiastion kyphos ^Neomerinthe hemingwayi ^Pontinus rathbuni ^*T rachyscorpia cristulata cristulata Scyliorhinidae *S cyliorhinus retifer S cyliorhinus meadi Serranidae Anthias sp. Setarchiidae *S etarches guentheri Squalidae ^S qualus asper S qualus sp. Sternoptychidae ^U nidentified ^*Maurolicus muelleri ^Polyipnus clarus Synaphobranchidae ^*Dysommina rugosa S ynaphobranchus sp. Synodontidae Trachinocephalus myops Trachichthyidae ^*Hoplostethus occidentalis Zeidae 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 stigmaeus Dorsal 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