Other ID: NURP 7; DELTA Dives 622-630, 632-634
Status: Completed
Organization(s): USGS, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Funding Program(s):
Principal Investigator(s): David Twichell
Affiliate Investigator(s): Kenneth W. Able, Rutgers University
Information Specialist(s): PARTNER
Data Type(s): Imagery: Photo, Geochemical: Surveys (geochemical), Location-Elevation: Navigation
Scientific Purpose/Goals: The purpose of the cruise is two fold: first to study the importance of the prized tilefish burrow as a lobster habitat, and second to evaluate the extent and style of sediment reworking by organisms on the outer shelf.
Vehicle(s):
Start Port/Location: New London, CT
End Port/Location: Woods Hole, MA
Start Date: 1987-05-28
End Date: 1987-06-03
Equipment Used: Camera- deep sea, Submersible pumps, Loran-C
Information to be Derived: Samples and chemical analysis; Morphology;
Summary of Activity and Data Gathered: This study was conducted over the open shelf in the Middle Grounds, the general area between Block and Atlantic Canyons. The specific site was chosen based on our extensive sidescan sonar surveys during 1984. We completed 14 dives, including one at night. Of these, Lance Stewart conducted one to test NURP-designed gear and another in an attempt to help URI scientists locate a missing scientific package. Most dives were centered around 725 ft. (690-840 ft.) in an area with numerous large tilefish burrows (approximately 10 ft. diameter) and abundant lobsters. Two dives immediately inshore in more shallow water (345-385 ft.) found tilefish burrows but no lobsters. We observed 85 lobsters during these dives. Most of these were moving over the open bottom as if they were taking part in the inshore migration. Many others were found in tilefish burrows and frequently lobsters and tilefish were observed simultaneously in the same vertical burrow. These lobsters usually were in larger alcoves in the upper one meter of the tilefish burrows. The shape of these smaller burrows suggested that they were dug by lobsters. Some lobsters were observed in abandoned tilefish burrows, particularly those in which the subsurface clay was still exposed. Other lobsters were observed in shallow bowl-shaped depressions as observed by other researchers. The bowl-shaped depressions were apparently of their own construction. The single night dive verified earlier observations in previous years in which we observed a marked shift in the fish fauna relative to dives during the day. These data along with extensive 35 mm and video film are still being analyzed. Observations from the DELTA submersible, bottom photography, and sediment sampling comprise the bulk of our work. Some pingers were placed for burrow location at a later date.
Staff: David Twichell
Affiliate Staff:
Ken Able (Rutgers University); Duncan Fitzgerald (Boston University); Chris Baldwin (Boston University); R. Slater (DELTA pilot)
Notes: Updated 02/25/09 by A. Orton for D. Twichell. Data Curator: Ken Able.
Project = Habitat Ecology of Offshore Populations of American Lobster, Habitat Ecology of Offshore Populations of American Lobster
Location:
New England Shelf, Middle Grounds, Block Canyon to Atlantis Canyon, United States, North America, North Atlantic;
Boundaries | |||
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North: 40.21033 | South: 40.0195 | West: -70.3613 | East: -70.334 |
Platform(s):
John Wesley Powell | Delta |
Able, K.W., Grimes, C.B., Jones, R.S., Twichell, D.C., 1993, Temporal and spatial variation in habitat characteristics of tilefish (Lopholatilus Chamaeleonticeps) off the east coast of Florida: Bulletin of Marine Science, v. 53, pp. 1013–1026(14), URL: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/umrsmas/bullmar/1993/00000053/00000003/art00005.
Twichell, D.C., Grimes, C. B., Jones, R. S., and Able, K. W., 1984, The role of bioerosion in shaping the outer continental shelf around Hudson Canyon, offshore Eastern United States [abs.]: , Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 19th Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs. Providence, R.I., 15-17 March 1984.
Twichell, D.C., Jones, R. S., Grimes, C. B., Able, K. W., Anonymous,, 1984, Bioerosion; its importance in shaping the outer continental shelf around Hudson Canyon off the eastern United States [abs.]: , Symposia Series for Undersea Research, NOAA National Undersea Research Conference; Undersea research and technology, scientific applications and future needs, Abstracts. Groton, Conn., 22-24 May 1984.
Survey Equipment | Survey Info | Data Type(s) | Data Collected |
---|---|---|---|
Camera- deep sea | --- | Photo | |
Submersible pumps | --- | Surveys (geochemical) | |
Loran-C | --- | Navigation |