|
October 24, 2007
bron The Daily Herald
Marine biologist Peter Etnoyer enthralled a Sea and Learn audience on Monday
evening with a deep-water video of sea fans or gorgonians, seen from a depth of
about 2,500 feet. This documentation was from a study done along a seamount chain in
the Gulf of Alaska.
Etnoyer is on Saba to carry out similar studies for the Saba
Bank project. Etnoyer and a group of marine scientists will spend 10 days on the
project, which is sponsored by the Netherlands Antilles Department of the
Environment and carried out under the auspices of the Saba Conservation Foundation.
Etnoyer's task is to survey the seabed to see what species and abundance of sea fans
are located there.
The team will use a remote controlled vehicle that can go to a
depth of 200 meters to take photos and videos and to gather samples. Current studies
have already increased the known diversity count from 10 to 26 gorgonian species. He
will take samples back to Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi for further
examination and analysis. Etnoyer said that sea fans produce age rings just like
trees, but at every lunar cycle. Thus it is possible to determine their age as well
as more precise information on annual climatic conditions that they have undergone.
For example, traces from the atomic bombs set off in Japan in 1945 have been
registered on sea fan samples from Alaska. Since some species are thousands of years
old, this data can help scientists in their studies regarding global warming and
climate cycles.
Etnoyer said that not much is known about the distribution and
diversity of sea fans, but they provide important habitat and food for other
species. Sea fans are threatened by anchor drag, fishing by-catch, and poaching for
their use as precious jewellery. The scientific data will help determine if
biodiversity is endangered enough to make zoning of the Saba Bank appropriate.
 Back to community news page.
|
