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Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
- Dataset ID: MBARI
- Database Version: 20251001-0
- Data Provider: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
- Data Contact: Lundsten, Lonny: lonny@mbari.edu
Locator Map
Geographic Range
- Ocean: North Pacific
- Fishery Management Council Region(s): Pacific, Western Pacific
- Large Marine Ecosystem(s): California Current, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of California, Insular Pacific-Hawaiian, Pacific Central-American Coastal
- Marine Ecoregion(s): Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Vancouver Coast and Shelf, Southern California Bight, Cortezian, Hawaii, Mexican Tropical Pacific
Bounding box
Coordinates are in WGS 84: EPSG:4326
- Minimum Latitude: 19.1171
- Maximum Latitude: 49.35187
- Minimum Longitude: -160.38654
- Maximum Longitude: -108.11498
Overview
Note: The numbers below only reflect published records. Additional records may be retained by the Program for further review.
- Number of records: 216,993
- Number of coral records: 145,000
- Number of sponge records: 71,993
- Records with images: 8771
- Record type(s): video observation
- Minimum depth (meters): 12
- Maximum depth (meters): 3,992
- Number of records flagged as <50 meters depth: 1,156
- Time frame: 1989 to 2015
Data Set Description: This is a subset of the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program’s National Database. The data set contains records of video observations of deepwater corals and sponges collected during research conducted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Changes to the original dataset may have been made to conform to the National Database Schema and for quality control purposes. Observations, many with associated images, were collected by MBARI during ROV surveys, most in the northeast Pacific and anotated from video using MBARI’s Video Annotation and Reference System (VARS). Further information can be found at: https://www.mbari.org/products/research-software/video-annotation-and-reference-system-vars/system-overview/
Collection methodogy details:
See link for methods.
Link: https://www.mbari.org/products/research-software/video-annotation-and-reference-system-vars/system-overview/
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Data Set Level Citation
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Observation date range: 1989 to 2015. Coral or sponge occurrence observations submitted to the NOAA National Database for Deep Sea Corals and Sponges (www.deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov). DSCRTP Dataset ID: MBARI. Database version: 20251001-0.
Note: Individual records within a data set may have additional citations in the ‘Citation’ field.
Taxonomic Summary
Percent of coral, sponge, and fish records by lowest taxonomic rank.
Corals
Number of coral records: 145,000
| Taxon rank | Percent of all coral records |
|---|---|
| class | 0 % |
| order | 2 % |
| family | 8 % |
| genus | 47 % |
| species | 31 % |
| variety | 2 % |
| NA | 10 % |
Sponges
Number of sponge records: 71,993
| Taxon rank | Percent of all sponge records |
|---|---|
| phylum | 45 % |
| class | 5 % |
| subclass | 0 % |
| order | 1 % |
| family | 1 % |
| genus | 21 % |
| subgenus | 7 % |
| species | 20 % |
Fishes
Number of fish records: 0
## No fish records in this data set.Coral Taxa Observed
Note: Nothing will appear here if no coral taxa were observed.
| ScientificName | AphiaID | Order | Family | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acanella | 125303 | Scleralcyonacea | Keratoisididae | 325 |
| Acanthogorgia | 125293 | Malacalcyonacea | Acanthogorgiidae | 3937 |
| Acanthoptilum | 267189 | Scleralcyonacea | Virgulariidae | 7954 |
| Alcyoniidae | 125269 | Malacalcyonacea | Alcyoniidae | 75 |
| Alternatipathes alternata | 994319 | Antipatharia | Schizopathidae | 3 |
| Alternatipathes bipinnata | 994318 | Antipatharia | Schizopathidae | 32 |
| Anthomastus | 125285 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 4572 |
| Anthoptilidae | 128480 | Scleralcyonacea | Anthoptilidae | 2 |
| Anthoptilum | 128489 | Scleralcyonacea | Anthoptilidae | 67 |
| Anthoptilum grandiflorum | 128504 | Scleralcyonacea | Anthoptilidae | 951 |
| Anthoptilum murrayi | 128505 | Scleralcyonacea | Anthoptilidae | 223 |
| Antipatharia | 22549 | Antipatharia | NA | 1041 |
| Antipathes | 103302 | Antipatharia | Antipathidae | 2 |
| Antipathes dendrochristos | 283893 | Antipatharia | Antipathidae | 1 |
| Antipathidae | 103301 | Antipatharia | Antipathidae | 2 |
| Balanophyllia | 135108 | Scleractinia | Dendrophylliidae | 19 |
| Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) elegans | 286920 | Scleractinia | Dendrophylliidae | 12 |
| Balticina | 146534 | Scleralcyonacea | Balticinidae | 1226 |
| Balticina californica | 1392940 | Scleralcyonacea | Balticinidae | 3756 |
| Balticinidae | 1508602 | Scleralcyonacea | Balticinidae | 13 |
| Bathyalcyon | 724717 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 7 |
| Bathyalcyon robustum | 724718 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 406 |
| Bathygorgia profunda | 883744 | Scleralcyonacea | Keratoisididae | 2 |
| Bathypathes | 103304 | Antipatharia | Schizopathidae | 629 |
| Callistephanus kofoidi | 1608731 | Malacalcyonacea | Gorgoniidae | 2330 |
| Callistephanus simplex | 1608733 | Malacalcyonacea | Gorgoniidae | 2131 |
| Calyptrophora | 177833 | Scleralcyonacea | Primnoidae | 147 |
| Calyptrophora bayeri | 409578 | Scleralcyonacea | Primnoidae | 8 |
| Calyptrophora laevispinosa | 409579 | Scleralcyonacea | Primnoidae | 7 |
| Caryophyllia | 135085 | Scleractinia | Caryophylliidae | 12 |
| Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) diomedeae | 135139 | Scleractinia | Caryophylliidae | 6 |
| Caryophylliidae | 135073 | Scleractinia | Caryophylliidae | 589 |
| Chromoplexaura | 724230 | Malacalcyonacea | Gorgoniidae | 191 |
| Chrysogorgia | 125294 | Scleralcyonacea | Chrysogorgiidae | 192 |
| Chrysogorgia monticola | 1288557 | Scleralcyonacea | Chrysogorgiidae | 135 |
| Chrysogorgia pinnata | 1288558 | Scleralcyonacea | Chrysogorgiidae | 90 |
| Chrysogorgiidae | 125273 | Scleralcyonacea | Chrysogorgiidae | 7 |
| Clavularia | 125286 | Malacalcyonacea | Clavulariidae | 120 |
| Clavularia grandiflora | 286025 | Malacalcyonacea | Clavulariidae | 43 |
| Clavulariidae | 125270 | Malacalcyonacea | Clavulariidae | 14 |
| Coralliidae | 125280 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 2907 |
| Dendropathes | 267376 | Antipatharia | Schizopathidae | 10 |
| Dendrophylliidae | 135074 | Scleractinia | Dendrophylliidae | 1 |
| Desmophyllum dianthus | 135159 | Scleractinia | Caryophylliidae | 18 |
| Distichoptilum | 128497 | Scleralcyonacea | Protoptilidae | 99 |
| Distichoptilum gracile | 128524 | Scleralcyonacea | Protoptilidae | 499 |
| Fungiacyathus (Bathyactis) marenzelleri | 135205 | Scleractinia | Fungiacyathidae | 173 |
| Funiculina | 128490 | Scleralcyonacea | Funiculinidae | 11060 |
| Gersemia juliepackardae | 944595 | Malacalcyonacea | Alcyoniidae | 406 |
| Heteropathes | 723286 | Antipatharia | Cladopathidae | 6 |
| Heteropolypus | 345446 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 464 |
| Heteropolypus ritteri | 724715 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 19912 |
| Iridogorgia | 125295 | Scleralcyonacea | Chrysogorgiidae | 55 |
| Isidella | 125305 | Scleralcyonacea | Keratoisididae | 3901 |
| Isidella tentaculum | 582522 | Scleralcyonacea | Keratoisididae | 348 |
| Javania | 135115 | Scleractinia | Flabellidae | 22 |
| Javania cailleti | 135198 | Scleractinia | Flabellidae | 6 |
| Keratoisididae | 1544106 | Scleralcyonacea | Keratoisididae | 1154 |
| Keratoisis | 125306 | Scleralcyonacea | Keratoisididae | 6069 |
| Kophobelemnidae | 128483 | Scleralcyonacea | Kophobelemnidae | 305 |
| Kophobelemnon | 128492 | Scleralcyonacea | Kophobelemnidae | 578 |
| Kophobelemnon macrospinosum | 128511 | Scleralcyonacea | Kophobelemnidae | 16 |
| Lepidisis | 125307 | Scleralcyonacea | Keratoisididae | 4888 |
| Leptogorgia chilensis | 286222 | Malacalcyonacea | Gorgoniidae | 34 |
| Lillipathes | 267553 | Antipatharia | Schizopathidae | 436 |
| Lithoptilum lithophilum | 1769885 | Scleralcyonacea | Anthoptilidae | 5 |
| Malacalcyonacea | 1609357 | Malacalcyonacea | NA | 28 |
| Narella | 125319 | Scleralcyonacea | Primnoidae | 1923 |
| Octocorallia | 1341 | NA | NA | 5 |
| Paracyathus | 135096 | Scleractinia | Caryophylliidae | 89 |
| Paracyathus stearnsii | 286830 | Scleractinia | Caryophylliidae | 17 |
| Paragorgia | 125326 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 4151 |
| Paragorgia arborea var. pacifica | 1647393 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 3138 |
| Parantipathes | 103306 | Antipatharia | Schizopathidae | 77 |
| Parastenella | 267700 | Scleralcyonacea | Primnoidae | 3188 |
| Parastenella gymnogaster | 409580 | Scleralcyonacea | Primnoidae | 1 |
| Pennatula | 128495 | Scleralcyonacea | Pennatulidae | 6666 |
| Pennatula murrayi | 221130 | Scleralcyonacea | Pennatulidae | 273 |
| Pennatula phosphorea | 128517 | Scleralcyonacea | Pennatulidae | 1641 |
| Pennatulidae | 128484 | Scleralcyonacea | Pennatulidae | 2125 |
| Pennatuloidea | 1609360 | Scleralcyonacea | NA | 14592 |
| Primnoidae | 125278 | Scleralcyonacea | Primnoidae | 3714 |
| Protoptilidae | 128485 | Scleralcyonacea | Protoptilidae | 1 |
| Protoptilum | 128498 | Scleralcyonacea | Protoptilidae | 815 |
| Psammogorgia | 267768 | Malacalcyonacea | Gorgoniidae | 276 |
| Ptilosarcus | 267795 | Scleralcyonacea | Pennatulidae | 190 |
| Ptilosarcus gurneyi | 290947 | Scleralcyonacea | Pennatulidae | 442 |
| Schizopathidae | 266964 | Antipatharia | Schizopathidae | 4 |
| Scleractinia | 1363 | Scleractinia | NA | 2172 |
| Sibogagorgia | 267835 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 3 |
| Sibogagorgia cauliflora | 517784 | Scleralcyonacea | Coralliidae | 107 |
| Stylaster | 117246 | Anthoathecata | Stylasteridae | 27 |
| Stylaster californicus | 285860 | Anthoathecata | Stylasteridae | 11 |
| Stylasteridae | 22805 | Anthoathecata | Stylasteridae | 3 |
| Stylatula | 128502 | Scleralcyonacea | Virgulariidae | 224 |
| Swiftia | 125314 | Malacalcyonacea | Plexauridae | 776 |
| Swiftia torreyi | 1036552 | Malacalcyonacea | Plexauridae | 1 |
| Trissopathes | 267926 | Antipatharia | Cladopathidae | 191 |
| Trissopathes pseudotristicha | 291243 | Antipatharia | Cladopathidae | 3560 |
| Umbellapathes | 267936 | Antipatharia | Schizopathidae | 421 |
| Umbellula | 1757986 | Scleralcyonacea | Umbellulidae | 1513 |
| Umbellula lindahli | 128531 | Scleralcyonacea | Umbellulidae | 7197 |
| Umbellula magniflora | 173577 | Scleralcyonacea | Umbellulidae | 6 |
| Umbellulidae | 1758274 | Scleralcyonacea | Umbellulidae | 31 |
| Virgularia | 128503 | Scleralcyonacea | Virgulariidae | 143 |
| Virgulariidae | 128488 | Scleralcyonacea | Virgulariidae | 607 |
Sponge Taxa Observed
Note: Nothing will appear here if no sponge taxa were observed.
| ScientificName | AphiaID | Order | Family | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acanthascus (Staurocalyptus) | 171991 | Lyssacinosida | Rossellidae | 5103 |
| Amphidiscophora | 131607 | NA | NA | 2 |
| Asbestopluma | 131893 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 2220 |
| Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) californiana | 1731764 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 1 |
| Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) monticola | 759744 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 430 |
| Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) rickettsi | 759939 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 63 |
| Atlantisella | 171852 | Lyssacinosida | Euplectellidae | 183 |
| Bathydorus | 132123 | Lyssacinosida | Rossellidae | 31 |
| Bathydorus laniger | 730558 | Lyssacinosida | Rossellidae | 174 |
| Bathydorus spinosus | 172036 | Lyssacinosida | Rossellidae | 1475 |
| Caulophacus | 132112 | Lyssacinosida | Rossellidae | 221 |
| Caulophacus (Caulophacus) cyanae | 293595 | Lyssacinosida | Rossellidae | 15 |
| Chondrocladia | 131894 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 32 |
| Chondrocladia (Symmetrocladia) lyra | 710164 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 32 |
| Chonelasma | 132102 | Sceptrulophora | Euretidae | 2720 |
| Cladorhiza | 131895 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 635 |
| Cladorhizidae | 131644 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 59 |
| Demospongiae | 164811 | NA | NA | 2 |
| Docosaccus maculatus | 730564 | Lyssacinosida | Euplectellidae | 194 |
| Euplectella | 132114 | Lyssacinosida | Euplectellidae | 23 |
| Euplectellidae | 131692 | Lyssacinosida | Euplectellidae | 902 |
| Euretidae | 131688 | Sceptrulophora | Euretidae | 6 |
| Farrea | 132107 | Sceptrulophora | Farreidae | 2586 |
| Farrea occa | 134391 | Sceptrulophora | Farreidae | 7510 |
| Farrea truncata | 747394 | Sceptrulophora | Farreidae | 872 |
| Heterochone | 171634 | Sceptrulophora | Aphrocallistidae | 1460 |
| Heterochone calyx | 171636 | Sceptrulophora | Aphrocallistidae | 1469 |
| Hexactinella | 132110 | Sceptrulophora | Tretodictyidae | 131 |
| Hexactinellida | 22612 | NA | NA | 3373 |
| Hyalonema | 132096 | Amphidiscosida | Hyalonematidae | 789 |
| Hyalonema (Corynonema) populiferum | 171425 | Amphidiscosida | Hyalonematidae | 117 |
| Hyalonema (Oonema) bianchoratum | 171508 | Amphidiscosida | Hyalonematidae | 290 |
| Lollipocladia tiburoni | 344755 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 7 |
| Lyssacinosida | 171834 | Lyssacinosida | NA | 36 |
| Nullarbora caillieti | 1466599 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 4 |
| Nullarbora evae | 1466606 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 7 |
| Nullarbora pteron | 1466632 | Poecilosclerida | Cladorhizidae | 12 |
| Poecilosclerida | 131599 | Poecilosclerida | NA | 339 |
| Polymastia | 132046 | Polymastiida | Polymastiidae | 3 |
| Porifera | 558 | NA | NA | 32621 |
| Regadrella | 132117 | Lyssacinosida | Euplectellidae | 213 |
| Rossellidae | 131694 | Lyssacinosida | Rossellidae | 23 |
| Saccocalyx | 171844 | Lyssacinosida | Euplectellidae | 7 |
| Saccocalyx pedunculatus | 171845 | Lyssacinosida | Euplectellidae | 54 |
| Sclerothamnopsis | 171809 | Sceptrulophora | Tretodictyidae | 4018 |
| Sclerothamnopsis compressa | 171810 | Sceptrulophora | Tretodictyidae | 298 |
| Stylocordyla | 132063 | Suberitida | Stylocordylidae | 20 |
| Thenea | 132019 | Tetractinellida | Theneidae | 7 |
| Thenea muricata | 134106 | Tetractinellida | Theneidae | 1201 |
| Theneidae | 131666 | Tetractinellida | Theneidae | 3 |