USGS Scientists Explore Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities in the Gulf of Mexico

The Importance of Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities in the Gulf of Mexico

The 20-day expedition, conducted in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), will provide critical information to inform proposed restoration and management activities in mesophotic and deep-sea habitats.

Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) Habitat Assessment and Evaluation Project

The expedition is a part of the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) Habitat Assessment and Evaluation project, a collaborative effort between USGS, BOEM, NOAA, and various partners from academic and research institutions. The MDBC portfolio includes four long-term projects that aim to improve understanding of mesophotic and deep benthic communities, inform management and restoration, and ensure ecosystem resiliency.

The Threats to Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Ecosystems

Mesophotic benthic areas are habitats along the seafloor that receive some sunlight, and deep benthic areas are those that receive very little to no sunlight. These ecosystems are vast and complex, and are foundational to the Gulf of Mexico’s food webs. Many animals, such as corals, sponges, and fish, including commercially important species rely on both mesophotic and deep-sea habitats.

Despite their depth, mesophotic and deep benthic ecosystems are threatened by natural disturbances and human activities, including climate change, ocean acidification, oil and gas related activities and commercial fishing. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill is estimated to have injured more than 770 square miles of deep-sea habitat and 4 square miles of mesophotic habitat. This included an estimated 263 km² of soft-sediment communities.

Restoration Efforts for Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities

Restoration goals for mesophotic and deep benthic communities include assessing baseline conditions and restoring invertebrate and fish abundance and biomass for species injured by the oil spill, with focus on high-density coral and hard-bottom sites and their surroundings. However, there is limited information about these communities, which makes restoration efforts challenging.

The Research Expedition

Aboard the University of Southern Mississippi’s research vessel Point Sur, an interdisciplinary team of scientists will assess, characterize, and map deepwater habitats to develop a better understanding of what healthy mesophotic and deep benthic communities look like and how they’re connected across the Gulf of Mexico.

Using a multicorer, a device that can collect multiple cylindrical tubes of sediment from the sea floor, and water sampling equipment, the team will investigate deep benthic communities at several sites that were previously sampled during the initial Deepwater Horizon response efforts.

They will also rely on a sub-bottom profiler, which is a type of sonar system that uses sound to map beneath the sea floor. This information will provide critical information about the marine geological context within and around the targeted benthic communities.

Implications for Management and Restoration

The data and samples collected from the Point Sur expedition will expand our knowledge of mesophotic and deep-sea habitats, particularly in those areas impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and inform the management and restoration of biological and geological resources in mesophotic and deep benthic ecosystems.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the importance of mesophotic and deep-sea habitats in the Gulf of Mexico and their vulnerability to natural disturbances and human activities. These issues are directly connected to SDG 14, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources. Additionally, the article mentions the need for restoration efforts to assess baseline conditions and restore invertebrate and fish abundance and biomass, which aligns with SDG 15’s target of reducing degradation of natural habitats. The collaboration between multiple organizations and institutions mentioned in the article also reflects the importance of partnerships for achieving sustainable development, as highlighted by SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems
• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development

The article emphasizes the need to manage and protect mesophotic and deep-sea habitats in the Gulf of Mexico, which aligns with Target 14.2 of SDG 14. It also highlights the goal of reducing degradation of these habitats through restoration efforts, which corresponds to Target 15.5 of SDG 15. Furthermore, the collaboration between USGS, BOEM, NOAA, and various partners from academic and research institutions demonstrates the enhancement of global partnerships for sustainable development, as targeted by SDG 17’s Target 17.16.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches
• Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index
• Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, Indicator 14.2.1 can be relevant to measure progress towards Target 14.2, as it assesses the proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches. Indicator 15.5.1, the Red List Index, can be used to measure progress towards Target 15.5 by evaluating the conservation status of species in the mesophotic and deep-sea habitats. Indicator 17.16.1, which measures the number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks, can be used to track progress towards Target 17.16, considering the collaboration between different organizations and institutions mentioned in the article.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: usgs.gov

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