Cuba’s Twilight Zone Reefs and Their Regional Connectivity

Cuba’s Twilight Zone Reefs and Their Regional Connectivity

Image Gallery

This page contains photos associated with the Cuba’s Twilight Zone Reefs and Their Regional Connectivity expedition. Click on any image to view a larger version and for additional information.

Depth distribution of 10 most frequently occuring sponges.

Sponge Zonation

Depth distribution of 10 most frequently occuring sponges.

Typical algal zonation we observed in Cuba’s mesophotic coral reefs.

Typical algal zonation we observed in Cuba’s mesophotic coral reefs.

Typical coral zonation we observed in Cuba’s mesophotic coral reefs.

Typical coral zonation we observed in Cuba’s mesophotic coral reefs.

Commonly occurring fishes.

Commonly Occurring Fishes

Commonly occurring fishes.

A massive school of dog snapper.

A massive school of dog snapper.

Some of the groupers observed.

Groupers Observed

Some of the groupers observed.

Lionfish, an exotic species, was present at most sites we explored.

Lionfish, an exotic species, was present at most sites we explored.

Group photo of Leg 2 scientic party

Group photo of Leg 2 scientic party.

Sunrise as we arrive off of Havana.

Sunrise as we arrive off of Havana.

Incredible diversity of beautiful organisms.

Incredible diversity of beautiful organisms.

ROV dives along the north east coast of Cuba.

ROV dives along the north east coast of Cuba.

Shallow water coral sampling via snorkeling.

Shallow water coral sampling via snorkeling.

Steeply sloped or even completely vertical walls.

Steeply sloped or even completely vertical walls.

ROV dive site in the upper mesophotic zone

Upper Mesophotic Zone

ROV dive site in the upper mesophotic zone.

Solitary lionfish were observed in multiple locations.

Solitary Lionfish

Solitary lionfish were observed in multiple locations.

Hard corals in the deep mesophotic zone.

Hard corals in the deep mesophotic zone.

The ROV sample collection skid manipulator

Skid Manipulator

The ROV sample collection skid manipulator.

The twisting motion of the manipulator’s wrist.

Twisting Motion

The twisting motion of the manipulator’s wrist.

The slit shell snail, Entemnotrochus adansonianus.

Slit Shell Snail

The slit shell snail, Entemnotrochus adansonianus.

The person operating the ROV manipulator.

The person operating the ROV manipulator.

Samples collected during an ROV dive.

Samples Collected

Samples collected during an ROV dive.

A garden of algae.

A garden of algae.

New depth record for Anadyomene.

New Depth Record

New depth record for Anadyomene.

Calcified green alga Udotea occidentalis.

Calcified Green Alga

Calcified green alga Udotea occidentalis.

Red alga (Chrysymenia enteromorpha) on sand plains.

Red alga (Chrysymenia enteromorpha) on sand plains.

The green alga Penicillus dumetosus.

The green alga Penicillus dumetosus.

Population of brown alga, Sporochnus pedunculatus.

Population of brown alga, Sporochnus pedunculatus.

Crustose coralline algae (CCA).

Silvertown Bank

The upper mesophotic zone of Silverton Bank.

The Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus).

The Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus).

Sierra Maestra mountain range.

Sierra Maestra mountain range.

Slope at dive site along the southeastern coast.

Slope at dive site along the southeastern coast.

The staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis).

The staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis).

The gorgonian Swiftia exerta.

The gorgonian Swiftia exerta.

Crustose coralline algae (CCA).

Crustose Coralline Algae

Crustose coralline algae (CCA).

Halimeda, a calcified, segmented green alga.

Segmented Green Alga

Halimeda, a calcified, segmented green alga.

Lobophora, a brown alga (Phylum Ochrophyta).

Lobophora, a brown alga (Phylum Ochrophyta).

Primary producers dominate the benthic community.

Benthic Community

Primary producers dominate the benthic community.

Map of the survey sites.

Map of the survey sites.

Depth Profile of Temperature

Graph of depth profile measurements.

ROV track and the measured parameters from dive 415 on May 21.

ROV track and the measured parameters from dive 415 on May 21.

Mohawk ROV with additional sensors.

Additional Sensors

Mohawk ROV with additional sensors.

Launching the CTD rosette.

Launching the CTD rosette.

The number of species observed in Cuba’s mesophotic reefs is quite impressive.

Species Observed

The number of species observed in Cuba’s mesophotic reefs is quite impressive.

The Blackcap Basslet (Gramma melacara) is very common in the Deep Mesophotic Zone.

Blackcap Basslet

The Blackcap Basslet (Gramma melacara) is very common in the Deep Mesophotic Zone.

The Tiger Grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) is one of several groupers we have seen on Cuba’s mesophotic reefs.

The Tiger Grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) is one of several groupers we have seen on Cuba’s mesophotic reefs.

In our ROV transects along the upper reef walls, we often see large schools of Jacks.

Horse-eye Jacks

In our ROV transects along the upper reef walls, we often see large schools of Jacks.

Perhaps the most impressive fish observation from the first leg of the expedition was a spawning aggregation of Ocean Triggerfish (Canthidermis sufflamen)..

Ocean Triggerfish

A spawning aggregation of Ocean Triggerfish (Canthidermis sufflamen).

Group photo of Leg 1 scientific party.

Scientific Party

Group photo of Leg 1 scientific party.

High density of plate corals in the upper mesophotic reef.

High density of plate corals in the upper mesophotic reef.

A white sponge (Aplysina sp.) and a polka dot sea cucumber.

A white sponge (Aplysina sp.) and a polka dot sea cucumber.

A sponge community in the deep mesophotic zone in Cabo San Antonio.

Sponge Community

A sponge community in the deep mesophotic zone in Cabo San Antonio.

Between 60 and 40 m, sponges, like totems, guard the reefs.

Between 60 and 40 meters, sponges, like totems, guard the reefs.

2 specimens of Xestospongia and a Verongiida.

2 specimens of Xestospongia and a Verongiida.

An Agaricia agaricites colony.

Agaricia Agaricites

An Agaricia agaricites colony.

Ph.D. Candidate Michael Studivan using the ROV toolsled controls.

Michael Studivan

Ph.D. Candidate Michael Studivan using the ROV toolsled controls.

Scleractinians such as Agaricia spp. cohabitate with gorgonians and antipatharians.

Scleractinians such as Agaricia spp. cohabitate with gorgonians and antipatharians.

A Swiftia exserta sample being collected

Swiftia exserta

A Swiftia exserta sample being collected.

Sampling our deepest Montastraea cavernosa found so far at 85 meters depth.

Montastraea Cavernosa

Sampling our deepest Montastraea cavernosa found so far at 85 meters depth.

Using the ROV suction hose to collect fragments of Agaricia sp.

Using the ROV suction hose to collect fragments of Agaricia sp.

The top of the reef wall at 45 meters depth is covered in a diverse array of sponges (rope sponges, Iotrochota birotulata; orange stalked sponges, Axinellidae), gorgonians (brown sea fan, Iciligorgia schrammi), black whip corals (Stichopathes), and scleractinian corals.

Array of Sponges

The top of the reef wall at 45 meters depth is covered in a diverse array of sponges, gorgonians, black whip corals, and scleractinian corals.

Map north side.

Map north side.

A sea fan Nicella goreaui and vase sponge Xestospongia sp. found along one of the many small ledges in the lower mesophotic zone (115 meters depth).

A sea fan and vase sponge found along one of the many small ledges in the lower mesophotic zone.

The ROV manipulator grips a Dragmacidon sp. sponge sample for taxonomic identification, collected in the lower mesophotic zone (120 meters depth).

The ROV manipulator grips a Dragmacidon sp. sponge sample for taxonomic identification, collected in the lower mesophotic zone.

Gorgonians such as Swiftia sp. (orange sea fan) and Ellisella barbadensis (orange sea whip), and black corals such as Stichopathes sp. (spiral whip) are common along the steep walls of the lower mesophotic zone (125 to 75 meters depths).

Gorgonians and black corals are common along the steep walls of the lower mesophotic zone.

A spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) comes to inspect the ROV during a coral collection in the upper mesophotic zone on the top of the reef wall at 45 meters depth.

A spiny lobster comes to inspect the ROV during a coral collection.

Huge (around 1-meter wide) and healthy plate corals

Huge (around 1-meter wide) and healthy plate corals.

Giant barrel sponges (Xestospongia muta).

Giant Barrel Sponges

Giant barrel sponges (Xestospongia muta).

The Mohawk ROV collecting valuable samples.

Collecting Valuable Samples

The Mohawk ROV collecting valuable samples.

The Mohawk ROV to collected 25 samples of algae, sponges, and corals in today's dives

The Mohawk ROV to collected 25 samples of algae, sponges, and corals in today's dives.

The team is using the Mohawk ROV to collect coral samples

Connectivity of Populations

The team is using the Mohawk ROV to collect coral samples.

Sponge biologist Cris Diaz.

Sponge biologist Cris Diaz.

Part of the team gathers around a work station to review cruise information

Reviewing Cruise Information

Part of the team gathers around a work station.

Much of the sites observed so far have been dominated by sponges

Dominated by Sponges

Much of the sites observed so far have been dominated by sponges.

The Mohawk ROV with some of its key parts labeled

The Mohawk ROV with some of its key parts labeled.

The suction carousel with sponges and coral.

Suction Carousel

The suction carousel with sponges and coral.

The bio box with dividers and full of sponges.

The bio box with dividers and full of sponges.

Mohawk ROV with the additional sensors attached for this expedition.

Additional Sensors

Mohawk ROV with the additional sensors attached for this expedition.

The R/V Walton Smith arriving in the port of Havana

The R/V Walton Smith arriving in the port of Havana.

Before casting off from the dock in Miami

Scientific Party

Before casting off from the dock in Miami.

Map of sister-sanctuary relationship between the marine sanctuaries

Sister-Sanctuary

Map of sister-sanctuary relationship between the marine sanctuaries.

Research Vessel F.G. Walton Smith.

F.G. Walton Smith

Research Vessel F.G. Walton Smith.

The SubAtlantic Mohawk 18 remotely operated vehicle (ROV)

Subatlantic Mohawk 18

The SubAtlantic Mohawk 18 remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

Map of Cuba with proposed ROV dive sites

Map of Cuba with proposed ROV dive sites.

Major Marine Conservation Areas of Cuba, Yucatan and South Florida

Marine Conservation Areas

Major Marine Conservation Areas of Cuba, Yucatan and South Florida.

Sponge and coral communities at Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba.

Guanahacabibes National Park

Sponge and coral communities at Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba.

Coralline algae and hard coral

Coralline algae and hard coral.

Scamp grouper at 95 meters off the Dry Tortugas.

Scamp grouper at 95 meters off the Dry Tortugas.

Phantom S2 Remotely operated vehicle (ROV)

Remotely Operated Vehicle

Mohawk Remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

The anthiid fish known as the roughtongue bass

The anthiid fish known as the roughtongue bass.