A deep-sea gorgonian growing on the nose of the sunken RMS 'Titanic'. Photographed with my participation during the dive 1/240 of the deep-sea manned submersible 'Mir-2' during the 42nd cruise of the research vessel 'Akademik Mstislav Keldysh'. The depth is 3850 m. The photo was previously used in my article (Vinogradov G.M. 2000. Growth rate of the colony of a deep-water gorgonarian Chrysogorgia agassizi: in situ observations // Ophelia, 53 (2): 101−103, fig. 2), the gorgonian was identified by the second, collected, specimen as Ch. agassizi. Later T.N. Molodtsova (P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, RAS) reidentifited it as Ch. campanula (Molodtsova T.N., Sanamyan N.P., Keller N.B. 2008. Anthozoa from the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone // Marine Biology Research, 4 (1): 112−130, p. 122). Mentioned articles can be found on Research Gate (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233062908_Growth_rate_of_the_colony_of_a_deep-water_Gorgonarian_Chrysogorgia_agassizi_In_situ_observations; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249019633_Anthozoa_from_the_northern_Mid-Atlantic_Ridge_and_Charlie-Gibbs_Fracture_Zone).
Глубоководная горгонария, вырасшая на релинге носа затонувшего «Титаника». Сфотографирована при моём участии во время погружения глубоководного аппарата «Мир-2» № 1/240 в 42 рейсе научно-исследовательского судна «Академик Мстислав Келдыш». Глубина 3850 м. Фотография ранее была использована в моей статье (Vinogradov G.M. 2000. Growth rate of the colony of a deep-water gorgonarian Chrysogorgia agassizi: in situ observations // Ophelia, 53(2): 101−103, fig. 2), горгонария была определена по второму, собранному, экземпляру как Ch. agassizi. Позже Т.Н. Молодцова (Институт океанологии РАН) переопределила её как Ch. сampanula (Molodtsova T.N., Sanamyan N.P., Keller N.B. 2008. Anthozoa from the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone // Marine Biology Research, 4(1): 112−130, p. 122). Упомянутые статьи можно найти на Research Gate (см. ссылки выше, в английском тексте).
A large gorgonian coral that forms extensive thickets that provide important habitat for bottom-dwelling rockfish. The coral fans reach 2 m across. The Knight Inlet sill is the only known shallow-water location (shallowest at -15 m) in British Columbia although it has been found even shallower in the fjords of Alaska. Abundant on deep reefs in Queen Charlotte Sound. Identified from collected samples by the Smithsonian Institution. Note that "red" tree coral is a poor common name for this species. It is most often a golden orange colour, not red. These large gorgonians are very susceptible to damage caused by bottom-contact fisheries such as trawling and trap lines.
A large fan-shaped gorgonian coral that reaches 1.5 m across. Commonly known as "Bubblegum Coral." Common along the British Columbia coast, but usually in deep water, both in the Strait of Georgia and offshore. Known to emerge into relatively shallow water (-30 m) at two locations on the BC coast: Agamemnon Channel and Tahsis Narrows, both of which feature upwelling currents over shallow sills. Identified from collected specimens by the Smithsonian Institution.
Grows in large fan-shaped colonies up to 1.5 m across. Generally in deep water off the BC coast but can be found at depths of 30 m and deeper in Agamemnon Channel, where it thrives in moderate tidal currents. Easily damaged by bottom-contact fishing methods.
ROV ROPOS
Dive R1154
Hiding inside a rossellid boot sponge.
In situ swimming behaviour.
ROV ROPOS
Dive R1161
Natural history footage of Salmon Shark scratching behaviour (Du Preez et al. 2022).
Part of the tuna crab invasion of the 2015 El Niño!