On March 25th, the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer wrapped up an exciting cruise to explore the depths of remote Pacific Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). As scientists collected data and made discoveries over the course of the expedition’s 19 dives, the remotely operated vehicles collected amazing images of life in the deep ocean.
A shrimp is protected from predators within the icy-looking spicules of a glass sponge.
A translucent squid (Chiroteuthis sp.) grips another squid in its tentacles. It is unclear whether this is mating or predation behavior.
Dumbo octopus observed resting on the seafloor.
This deep-sea holothurian was discovered during the deepest dive of the expedition, and is commonly known as a sea pig.
A close-up of the radiating tentacles of a hydroid.
A siphonophore drifts through the darkness. This intact-looking animal is actually a colony of specialized individual hydrozoans.
A pink octocoral stands out against the sediment.
Iridigorgia corals grow upward in a spiral pattern, like stop-motion fireworks along the seafloor.
A brittle star clings to a bubblegum coral, named for its color and the appearance of its polyps – like chewed pieces of bubblegum.
Dumbo octopus glides away through the water, propelled by fins behind its eyes ( the “ears” that give it its name). This one had visible scarring and a missing arm – perhaps the result of a close call earlier in its life.
Close-up of a sea star. These marine invertebrates come in a variety of colors and forms, and are important components of many marine ecosystems.
An angler fish lies on the bottom of the seafloor.
Bathymetric map of the seamounts and submerged reefs within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. Several of these reefs and seamount were explored during the most recent expedition.
MPAs like the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, where most of this expedition’s dives took place, are managed by different levels of government to help sustain healthy marine ecosystems. The establishment of MPAs comes from the recognition that the ocean is an important cultural, economic, and ecological resource. Deep-water exploration expeditions like this one are vital to help scientists and policy makers understand these hard-to-reach areas. Underwater exploration teaches us why these rarely seen areas are important, and what can be done to protect them.
All images courtesy of NOAA Office of Exploration and Research