Subject: flower garden and chemo2 data
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:59:49 -0500
From: "Gary A. Wolff" <gary@gerg.tamu.edu>
To: "Francis Mitchell" <Francis.Mitchell@noaa.gov>

Frank

Have attached (and inserted) extra data you asked for on Flower Gardens. Let
me know if not right.
Also need to upload -
Stability and Change in Gulf of Mexico Chemosynthetic Communities
data
Same place?
Thanks
Gary

More Flower Garden Data
POSITIONS
East Flower Garden Bank (EFGB) is located at 27o 54.5 N latitude and 93o
36.0 W longitude, approximately 193 km southeast of Galveston, Texas.
West Flower Garden Bank (WFGB) is located approximately 172 km southeast of
Galveston at 27o 52.4 North latitude and 93o 48.8 West longitude

The coral cap ranges in depth from approximately 18 to 36 m (Rezak et al.,
1985).  The pear shaped EFGB, encompassing an area of approximately 67 km2
The major features of the 137 km2 WFGB are three crests aligned along an
east-west axis The middle crest rises from a depth of 100150 m to within 18
m of the surface

GEAR TYPES METHODS
Random photographic transects were conducted within the boundaries of each
study site to provide data on coral community population diversity and
cover.  Fourteen 10 m transects, each containing seventeen non-overlapping
photographs, were taken on each site during 1998 and 1999 (Gittings et al.,
1992; Hagman and Gittings, 1992).  Divers were equipped with Nikonos III or
V cameras loaded with Kodak Ektachrome 100, 36 exposure color slide film, 28
mm lens and dual Nikonos strobes mounted on a rectangular aluminum or
stainless steel camera frame (Figure 2.3.0.1).  The bottom of each frame was
wrapped in closed cell foam to protect the corals from damage.  This system
produced color positive images of reef substrate approximately 44 x 63 cm in
size.

Sclerochronology, the determination of annual coral growth rates through
measuring accretionary growth bandwidths, is the accepted form of
determining growth rates within the FGBNMS.
One core sample was obtained from both the EFGB and WFGB during February
2000.  To reduce potential risks to the environment, coral cores were
obtained using a pneumatic drill attached to a compressed air scuba cylinder
instead of the hydraulic previously described equipment.  Resulting cores
were 60 mm in diameter and were drilled to a depth of at least 100 mm
representing more than ten years of growth.  To obtain the most accurate and
continuous growth information, it was also essential to drill the core
sample perpendicular to the surface of the coral head.

Dates
Sampling cruises were conducted aboard the M/V Fling during 27 September - 1
October 1998 and 12-16 September 1999.  Weather conditions were excellent
during the 1998 cruise; however, conditions during the September 1999 cruise
were marginal, forcing postponement of one contracted task (core extraction)
and ancillary deepwater studies.  The core extraction was eventually
collected in February 2000.

Publications
none

Gary Wolff
833 Graham Rd
College Station, TX  77845
(979)862-2323 x121  fax (979)862-2361
http://www.gerg.tamu.edu/

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