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Seafloor Characterization of the U.S. Caribbean |
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Day 11: 2.11.2005
Nancy Foster Mission Cruise Update #12
South of St Thomas:
The ROV team conducted four transects in the region of Frenchcap Cay. Two perpendicular transects crossed just north of the cay, so close the Nancy Foster passed within several hundred meters of land. Two other transects were completed several kilometers to the east on a slightly elevated ridge. Eight kilometers of habitat were investigated.
The science crew was extremely pleased to see a healthy reef overflowing with marine life around Frenchcap Cay. The reef stretched out a couple of kilometers from the Cay¹s shore and we were lucky enough to traverse several kilometers of it. The reef was densely covered in encrusting and plate stony coral, enormous vase sponges, neon tube sponges and thick gorgonians. Only Grammanik Bank appeared to rival this coral density. Fish darted among the gorgonians and through the voids around corals. We were even fortunate enough to see a sea turtle pass in front of the ROV and a sting ray lying in a small patch of sand. Schools of fish were frequently observed and some rarer species of fish, like the Spotted Drum, were noticed. This area seemed to be exploding with life.
An unfortunate event came at the end of our last transect of the day. We saw a large object off in the distance. After seeing so many organisms, all of the science crew were squinting their eyes imagining a large marine animal. As the shape approached, the silhouette sharpened and we could see the regular austere outline of a manmade object. It was yet another fish trap! It is too bad this was our last vision of a reef paradise.
Figure 1: A stingray lies on the bottom, hidden by a thin veneer of sand toward the right hand side of this snapshot.
Figure 2: Staghorn coral (Acropora cevicornis) appears as a thicket of brambles along the upper margin and towards the center of this picture. Staghorn coral is excruciatingly rare among the transects of our expedition. The ROV video has revealed plenty of coral rubble with the distinctive outlines of Staghorn coral, indicating it once thrived.