Mission Plan
Mission Plan

Education
Education

Biodiversity
Biodiversity

Technical Diving
Technical Diving

Biotechnology
Biotechnology

Explorers
Explorers

 

Photo & Video Log

This page contains photos and videos taken during the Cayman Islands Twilight Zone 2007 exploration, which took place May 21 to 31, 2007. Click on any image to view a larger version and for additional information. If a movie camera icon camera icon is present, a QuickTime video can be viewed by clicking on the image. Other video formats are available on the linked pages. If a Podcast icon Podcast Icon is present, a video or audio file is available for download or you can subscribe to the RSS Podcast Feed. NOAA Podcast RSS 2.0 Feed

If a slideshow icon slideshow icon is present, a visual log of exploration images can be viewed. You can scroll through them one by one, or select the play button for an automatic slideshow.

(HR) = "High Resolution" images available.

 

camera icon Video & Slideshows

Deep reef sponges make their shallow-water relatives look very small.

camera icon May 30
See how histology helps scientists conclude what kind of sponge they have discovered. (Quicktime, 3.8 Mb.)

Deep reef sponges make their shallow-water relatives look very small.

camera icon May 29
Deep-reef sponges make their shallow-water relatives look very small. (Quicktime, 2 Mb.)

Sample collection 200ft target depth dive.

camera icon May 26
Scientists explain predator deterrence through bioassays of the sharpnose puffer fish. (Quicktime, 4.3 Mb.)

Sampling extinct chimneys at East Diamante.

camera icon May 25
The many steps required to process microbial samples. (Quicktime, 7.1 Mb.)

Fluorescent coral samples back in the lab.

camera icon May 24
Fluorescent coral samples back in the lab. (Quicktime, 13.3 Mb.)

Fluorescent coral target depth 150ft sample collection dive.

pod cast camera icon May 24
Fluorescent coral (target depth 150 foot) sample collection dive. (Quicktime, 2.6 Mb.)

Sample collection 200ft target depth dive.

YouTube camera icon May 22
Sample collection at 200-foot target depth dive. (Quicktime, 11.4 Mb.)

Sample collection 200ft target depth dive.

camera icon May 22
Sample collection at 250-foot target depth dive. (Quicktime, 5.8 Mb.)

Learn what Marc Slattery hopes to discover on this expedition.

pod cast Mission Plan
Learn what Marc Slattery hopes to discover on this expedition. (Quicktime, 608 Kb.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images

Cayman Island Twilight Zone 2007 exploration, science team group picture.

May 31
Cayman Island Twilight Zone 2007 exploration science team. (HR)

Darwin, barophile wannabe.

May 31
Darwin, "barophile" wannabe.

 

 

 

 

This is a picture of a Hawksbill turtle feeding on a sponge.

May 30
A hawksbill turtle feeds on a sponge. (HR)

This is a picture of a hermit crab found at the steps of the Little Cayman Research Center.

May 30
We found this hermit crab at the steps of the Little Cayman Research Center. (HR)

This is a picture of Beth and Cristina after a dive at our study site.

May 30
Sharpnose puffer fish in wetlab during bioassay testing to see how the fish reacts to the various chemicals compounds. (HR)

This is a picture of a hermit crab found at the steps of the Little Cayman Research Center.

May 30
Scientists conduct a site survey on the abundance and location of marine life, sponges, and corals at a depth of 40 feet. (HR)

One of the more common deep reef corals on the Little Cayman walls are Mycetophyllia spp.

May 29
Here we can see zonation above 200 feet (60.9 meters) with about 10 to 20% sponge coverage.

One of the more common deep reef corals on the Little Cayman walls are Mycetophyllia spp.

May 29
A typical deep sponge community.


 

 

 

 

One of the more common deep reef corals on the Little Cayman walls are Mycetophyllia spp.

May 28
The Caribbean tunicate, Ecteinascidia turbinata, provides a good example of the biomedical potential of marine natural products. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the more common deep reef corals on the Little Cayman walls are Mycetophyllia spp.

May 27
One of the more common deep reef corals on the Little Cayman walls is Mycetophyllia spp. (HR)

Plating Agaricids are common down to about 200 ft on the Little Cayman walls.

May 27
Plating agaricids are common down to about 200 feet on the Little Cayman walls. (HR)

The precious black corals are also common on the wall faces, rarely above 150 ft depth due to prior harvesting for the jewelry trade.

May 27
The precious black corals are common on the wall faces, but we rarely find them above 150 foot (45.7 meter) depth. (HR)

Several species of gorgonian octocorals occur on deep reefs.

May 27
Several species of gorgonian octocorals occur on deep reefs. (HR)

The sharpnose puffer fish, Canthigaster rostrata, our model 'lab rat' for predator deterrence assays in the laboratory.

May 26
The sharpnose puffer fish, Canthigaster rostrata, our model "lab rat" for predator deterrence assays in the laboratory.

The butterfly fish, Chaetodon striatus, feeding on sponges of a Caribbean reef.

May 26
Butterfly fish, Chaetodon striatus, feed on sponges of a Caribbean reef.

 

 

 

 

A vase sponge does not host a microbial community, unlike what is found in the surrounding water column.

May 25
Some sponges, like this vase sponge (Callyspongia plicifera), do not host a microbial community that is substantially different from that found in the surrounding water column. (HR)

Tufts of filamentous cyanobacteria form large accumulations of individual microscopic cells that are visible to the naked eye.

May 25
Tufts of filamentous cyanobacteria form large accumulations of individual microscopic cells. (HR)

A frequently found Cyanobacteria overgrowing benthic organisms such as this soft coral.

May 25
A frequently found cyanobacteria overgrowing benthic organisms, such as this soft coral. (HR)

Each spot on this agar plate is a bacterial colony recovered from a marine sponge sample.

May 25
Each spot on this agar plate is a bacterial colony recovered from a marine sponge sample. (HR)

Monsatrea cavernosa exhibiting orange fluorescence and green fluorescence in the mouth of the polyps.

May 24
Montastrea cavernosa exhibiting orange and green fluorescence in the mouth of the polyps. (HR)

Montastrea cavernosa exhibiting green fluorescence only.

May 24
Montastrea cavernosa exhibiting green fluorescence only. (HR)

Mussa angulosa, a single polyp, is showing green fluorescence.

May 24
This Mussa angulosa, a single polyp, shows green fluorescence. (HR)

Examples of solitary coral, scolymia cubensis, found at a depth of 150 feet.

May 24
Examples of solitary coral, Scolymia cubensis, found at a depth of 150 feet. (HR)

Sponge biodiversity and morphotypes at the lip of our wall site in 60 ft of water.

May 23
Sponge biodiversity and morphotypes at the lip of our wall site in 60 feet of water. (HR)

Agelas conifera is a common sponge of the Caribbean over a broad depth gradient.

May 23
Agelas conifera, a common sponge in the Caribbean, is found over a broad depth gradient.(HR)

This brown sponge (Agelas conifera) can grow to enormous proportions on deeper reefs where it can form long creeping arms extending into the depths.

May 23
The brown sponge, Agelas conifera, can grow to enormous proportions on deeper reefs. (HR)

Xestospongia muta, the barrel sponge, may live for 100 years and grow to over 6 ft tall.

May 23
Xestospongia muta, the barrel sponge, may live for 100 years and grow to over 6 feet tall. (HR)

The liver sponge, Plakortis sp., produces a series of important chemical compounds that deter predators and have biomedical antimicrobial activity.

May 23
The liver sponge produces a series of important chemical compounds that deter predators. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twilight Zone technical diver Liz Kintzing lays a guide line along the wall face.

May 22
Twilight Zone technical diver Liz Kintzing lays a guide line along the wall face. (HR)

Twilight Zone technical diver Marc Slattery helps lay a guide line along the wall face.

May 22
Twilight Zone technical diver Marc Slattery helps lay a guide line along the wall face. (HR)

Little Cayman has some of the steepest drop-offs in the Caribbean because it is perched on the edge of the 7500 m-deep Cayman Trench.

May 22
Little Cayman has some of the steepest drop-offs in the Caribbean, because it is perched on the edge of the 7,500-meter-deep Cayman Trench. (HR)

A hawksbill sea turtle feeds on sponges which are common in both deep and shallow reefs.

May 22
A hawksbill sea turtle feeds on sponges, which are common in both deep and shallow reefs. (HR)

This lettuce coral (Agaricia sp.) is one of the most common corals on the reefs of Little Cayman.

May 21
This lettuce coral, Agaricia sp., is one of the most common corals on the reefs of Little Cayman. (HR)

At the edge of the dropoff we find a diversity of sponges and hard and soft corals.

May 21
At the edge of the drop-off we find a diversity of sponges and hard and soft corals. (HR)

Black Band Disease was one of the first coral diseases identified back in the 1970s, and is still one of the most prevalent diseases on reefs worldwide.

May 21
Black band disease was one of the first coral diseases identified back in the 1970s, and it remains one of the most prevalent diseases on reefs worldwide. (HR)

This blushing star coral (Stephanocoenia mechelinii) is severely affected by Dark Spot Syndrome.

May 21
This blushing star coral, Stephanocoenia mechelinii, is severely affected by dark spot syndrome. (HR)

Outcroppings serve as homes for many species, including corals, fishes and sponges.

May 21
Outcroppings serve as homes for many species, including corals, fishes, and sponges. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cayman Islands Twilight Zone 2007 expedition research area.

Mission Plan
Cayman Islands Twilight Zone 2007 expedition research area map. (HR)

The zones profile of a typical coral reef.

Mission Plan
The zones profile of a typical coral reef. The deep fore-reef, or Twilight Zone (from about 50- to 150-meter depth), has rarely been explored. (HR)

Typical sponge biodiversity of a shallow Caribbean coral reef.

Mission Plan
Typical sponge biodiversity of a shallow Caribbean coral reef. (HR)

A diver explores the vertical distribution of corals on a Pacific wall.

Mission Plan
A diver explores the vertical distribution of corals on a Pacific wall. (HR)

The biodiversity of vertical walls can be impressive, as this photo from the Indo-Pacific demonstrates.

Biodiversity
The biodiversity of vertical walls can be impressive, as this photo from the Indo-Pacific demonstrates. (HR)

As light becomes limiting in the deep reef fewer hard corals are able to survive.

Biodiversity
As light becomes limiting in the deep reef, fewer hard corals are able to survive. (HR)

 

 

 

 

One of the earliest rebreather designs by Giovanni Borelli in 1680.

Technical Diving
One of the earliest "rebreather" designs by Giovanni Borelli in 1680. (HR)

Technical diving research team with assorted tanks carrying different mixtures of TRIMIX.

Technical Diving
Technical diving research team with assorted tanks, carrying different mixtures of Trimix. (HR)

A more recent version of the rebreather allows this diver to swim over a Caribbean reef without bubbles.

Technical Diving
A more recent version of the rebreather allows this diver to swim over a Caribbean reef without bubbles. (HR)

 

 

Drugs from the sea are one potential biotechnology product.

Biotechnology
Drugs from the sea are one potential biotechnology product. (HR)

Flourescent proteins in these corals have important biotechnology applications.

Biotechnology
Flourescent proteins in these corals have important biotechnology applications. (HR)

 

 

 

 

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