NOAA’s National Database for Deep-Sea Corals and Sponges: Data Set Dashboard (Program)

NOAA Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP)

Report last ran on 2025-10-06

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Southwest Fisheries Science Center La Jolla, Advanced Survey Technologies (AST) Benthic Resources Group

Locator Map

Geographic Range

  • Ocean: North Pacific
  • Fishery Management Council Region(s): Pacific
  • Large Marine Ecosystem(s): California Current
  • Marine Ecoregion(s): Southern California Bight, Northern California

Bounding box

Coordinates are in WGS 84: EPSG:4326

  • Minimum Latitude: 31.41184
  • Maximum Latitude: 34.13899
  • Minimum Longitude: -120.56616
  • Maximum Longitude: -116.6217

Overview

Note: The numbers below only reflect published records. Additional records may be retained by the Program for further review.

  • Number of records: 4,103
  • Number of coral records: 3,919
  • Number of sponge records: 184
  • Records with images: 4098
  • Record type(s): still image
  • Minimum depth (meters): 24
  • Maximum depth (meters): 526
  • Number of records flagged as <50 meters depth: 624
  • Time frame: 2003 to 2011

Data Set Description: This is a subset of the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program’s National Database. The data were provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Southwest Fisheries Science Center La Jolla, Advanced Survey Technologies (AST) Benthic Resources Group. Observations of deepwater corals and sponges were recorded from still images collected during ROV surveys. Changes to the original dataset may have been made to conform to the National Database Schema and for quality control purposes. Further information can be found at: https://www.coastalscience.noaa.gov/publications/ccehbr/detail.aspx?resource=xyYY8+Vs2IWyXc8n343Z0pYibphi/R2GuAhSXhxDU1E=

Collection methodogy details:

Surveys were conducted using remotely operated vehicles (ROV)
Link: https://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?Division=FRD&id=1110&ParentMenuId=647

Data Set Level Citation

NOAA, Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Observation date range: 2003 to 2011. Coral or sponge occurrence observations submitted to the NOAA National Database for Deep Sea Corals and Sponges (www.deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov). Principal investigator: Stierhoff, Kevin | Etnoyer, Peter. DSCRTP Dataset ID: NOAA_SWFSC_AST. 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: 3,919

Taxon rank Percent of all
coral records
class 5 %
order 0 %
genus 24 %
species 70 %

Sponges

Number of sponge records: 184

Taxon rank Percent of all
sponge records
phylum 100 %

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
Acanthogorgia 125293 Malacalcyonacea Acanthogorgiidae 148
Acanthogorgia gracillima 286057 Malacalcyonacea Acanthogorgiidae 2
Adelogorgia phyllosclera 289357 Malacalcyonacea Gorgoniidae 535
Antipathes dendrochristos 283893 Antipatharia Antipathidae 233
Chromoplexaura marki 724231 Malacalcyonacea Gorgoniidae 45
Coenocyathus bowersi 286780 Scleractinia Caryophylliidae 295
Dendrophyllia 135110 Scleractinia Dendrophylliidae 70
Desmophyllum dianthus 135159 Scleractinia Caryophylliidae 574
Desmophyllum pertusum 1245747 Scleractinia Caryophylliidae 232
Eugorgia rubens 289935 Malacalcyonacea Gorgoniidae 459
Leptogorgia chilensis 286222 Malacalcyonacea Gorgoniidae 385
Malacalcyonacea 1609357 Malacalcyonacea NA 2
Muricea 177745 Malacalcyonacea Plexauridae 14
Octocorallia 1341 NA NA 199
Paragorgia 125326 Scleralcyonacea Coralliidae 135
Parastenella 267700 Scleralcyonacea Primnoidae 7
Plumarella 177839 Scleralcyonacea Primnoidae 233
Stylaster 117246 Anthoathecata Stylasteridae 175
Swiftia 125314 Malacalcyonacea Plexauridae 171
Umbellula 1757986 Scleralcyonacea Umbellulidae 5

Sponge Taxa Observed

Note: Nothing will appear here if no sponge taxa were observed.

ScientificName AphiaID Order Family Records
Porifera 558 NA NA 184

Fish Taxa Observed

Note: Nothing will appear here if no fish taxa were observed.

## No fish records in this data set.

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