NOAA CIOERT Final Cruise Report Report Title: Characterization of Mesophotic Coral/Sponge Habitats and Fish Assemblages in the Regions of Pulley Ridge and Tortugas from ROV Dives during R/V Walton Smith Cruises of 2012 to 2015 R/V F.G. Walton Smith UNCW Super Phantom 2 ROV and NMSF Mohawk ROV NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science award: NA11NOS4780045 “Connectivity of the Pulley Ridge - South Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem” NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research awards: NA09OAR4320073 and NA14OAR4320260 to the Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research and Technology (CIOERT) at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute-Florida Atlantic University John Reed, Stephanie Farrington Cooperative Institute of Ocean Exploration and Technology Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University (HBOI-CIOERT) Andrew David, Stacey Harter, Heather Moe NOAA/NMFS/Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Lance Horn, Glenn Taylor, Jason White Undersea Vehicles Program, University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW-CIOERT) Joshua Voss, Shirley Pomponi, Cristina Diaz, Dennis Hanisak Cooperative Institute of Ocean Exploration and Technology Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University (HBOI-CIOERT) Citation: Reed J.K., S. Farrington, A. David, S. Harter, H. Moe, L. Horn, G. Taylor, J. White, J. Voss, S. Pomponi, D. Hanisak. 2017. Characterization of Mesophotic Coral/Sponge Habitats and Fish Assemblages in the Regions of Pulley Ridge and Tortugas from ROV Dives during R/V Walton Smith Cruises of 2012 to 2015. NOAA CIOERT Cruise Report. Submitted to NOAA- NOS-NCCOS, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. 76 pp. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Technical Report Number 178. April 26, 2017 Photo Album- Corals of Pulley Ridge Plate 1. Photo Album- Corals of Pulley Ridge. Images from FGNMS Mohawk ROV during 2014 R/V Walton Smith Cruise. A. Helioseris cucullata, Block 30, depth 74.2 m; B. Madracis auretenra, Block 30, depth 73.8 m; C. Madracis decactis f. pharensis, Block 76, depth 81.7 m; D. bleached or diseased Agaricia sp. coral, Block 31, depth 76.5 m; E. Agaricia lamarcki, Block 83, depth 82.5 m; F. three color morphs of Montastraea cavernosa, Block 61, 29.2 m, Tortugas. 2 Photo Album- Sponges of Pulley Ridge Plate 2. Photo Album- Sponges of Pulley Ridge. Images from FGNMS Mohawk ROV during 2014 R/V Walton Smith Cruise. A. Bubaris sp., Block 25, depth, 79.4 m; B. Spongosorites siliquaria, Block 25, depth 77.3 m; C. Geodia neptuni complex, Block 30, depth 73.2 m; D. Petrosiidae, Block 30, depth 73.8 m; E. Aiolochroia crassa, Block 35, depth 79.3 m; F. Oceanapia sp., Block 35, depth 79.2 m. 3 Photo Album- Soft Corals and Black Corals of Pulley Ridge Plate 3. Photo Album- Soft Corals and Black Corals of Pulley Ridge. Images from FGNMS Mohawk ROV during 2014 R/V Walton Smith Cruise. A. Chironephthya caribaea, Block 35, depth 79.6 m; B. Swiftia exserta (with lionfish), Block 35, depth 79.3 m; C. Antipathes atlantica, Block 34, depth 82.1 m; D. Primnoidae gorgonian, Block 34, depth 83.2 m; E. Stylaster filogranus, Block 34, depth 83.7 m; F. Antipatharia, Block 36, depth 79. 4 Photo Album- Algae of Pulley Ridge Plate 4. Photo Album- Algae of Pulley Ridge. Images from FGNMS Mohawk ROV during 2014 R/V Walton Smith Cruise. A. Halimeda sp., Block 29, depth 79.1 m; B. Cyanobacterial mat; Block 27, depth 68.6 m; C. Kallymenia westii, Block 27, depth 67.9m; D. Crustose coralline algae, Block 28, depth 79.8 m; E. Codium sp., Block 32, depth 64 m; F. Anadyomene menziesii (leafy green), Block 30, depth 74.1 m. 5 Photo Album- Fishes of Pulley Ridge Plate 5. Photo Album- Fishes of Pulley Ridge. Images from FGNMS Mohawk ROV during 2014 R/V Walton Smith Cruise. A. Sand tilefish burrow, Block 27, depth, 68.6 m; B. large red grouper (Epinephelus morio) guarding its burrow, Block 28, depth 79.8 m, laser scale- 10 cm; C. Longspine squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus), Block 28, depth 80.1 m; D. school of lionfish (Pterois volitans) in red grouper burrow, Block 34, depth 81.6 m; E. Reef butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius), Block 23, depth 67.1; F. Scamp grouper (Mycteroperca phenax), Block 75, depth 106.9 m (Miller’s Ridge). 6 Photo Album- Miscellaneous Fauna of Pulley Ridge Plate 6. Photo Album- Miscellaneous fauna of Pulley Ridge. Images from FGNMS Mohawk ROV during 2014 R/V Walton Smith Cruise. A. Sea biscuit (Meoma ventricosa), Block 27, depth 69.3 m; B. Aggregation of sea urchins (Echinus sp.), Block 27, 66.9 m; C. Long-armed crinoid (Davidaster discoideus), Block 30, depth 74.8 m; D. Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), Block 79, depth 85.7 m; E. Sea pansies, Corallimorpharia, Block 77, depth 81.1 m; F. Manta ray (Manta birostris), Block 76, depth 78.6 m. 7 Photo Album- Miscellaneous Biota of Tortugas Mesophotic Reefs Plate 7. Photo Album- Miscellaneous biota of Tortugas mesophotic reefs. Images from FGNMS Mohawk ROV during 2014 R/V Walton Smith Cruise. A. Large goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) with large spawning aggregation of grey snapper on newly discovered patch reef; Block 66, depth 23.5 m; B. Nurse shark, Montastraea cavernosa coral, Xestospongia muta sponges, and Pseudopterogorgia gorgonians on fringing reef off north Tortugas Ecological Reserve, Block 46, depth 27.9 m; C. Mycetophyllia aliciae and bleached Undaria sp. coral on patch reef, Block 61, depth 30.8 m; D. Giant star coral Montastraea cavernosa on fringing reef, Block 46, depth 27.9 m; E. soft bottom with field of green algae- bottle brush algae Penicillus dumetosus, feather algae Caulerpa sertularioides, Block 61, depth 30.7 m; F. seagrass Halophila decipiens Block 69, depth 31.2 m. 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 10 Marine Protected Areas ............................................................................................................. 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 12 STUDY AREAS ........................................................................................................................... 13 Pulley Ridge and Tortugas Mesophotic Ecosystems- Background .......................................... 13 OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................... 14 PURPOSE ..................................................................................................................................... 14 METHODS ................................................................................................................................... 14 ROV Operations ........................................................................................................................ 14 ROV Survey Protocol................................................................................................................ 16 Selection of Random Blocks and Transects for ROV Surveys ................................................. 17 Protocol for Benthic Habitat Characterization .......................................................................... 18 Benthic Analyses ....................................................................................................................... 19 Coral Analyses .......................................................................................................................... 20 Statistical Analyses ................................................................................................................... 21 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................................... 22 ROV Dive Summary ................................................................................................................. 22 Study Areas ............................................................................................................................... 22 Benthic Habitat .......................................................................................................................... 25 Benthic Macrobiota ................................................................................................................... 26 Coral Community- Pulley Ridge ............................................................................................... 31 Coral Communities- Change Over Time .................................................................................. 41 Benthic Biota and Habitat Relationships .................................................................................. 43 Analysis of Fish Video Surveys ................................................................................................ 50 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................... 58 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................. 59 Appendix 1- ROV Station List 63 Appendix 2- Species List and Percent Cover of Benthic Biota by Block at Pulley Ridge 67 Appendix 3- Species List and Percent Cover of Benthic Biota by Block at Tortugas 69 Appendix 4- Species List and Density of Fish by Block at Pulley Ridge 72 Appendix 5- Species List and Density of Fish by Block at Tortugas 74 9 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report summarizes the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys during