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Day 1: July 17, 2005
Air Temperature: 83 °F
Bottom Water Temperature: 75 °F
Seas were calm and the water a deep blue reflecting the influence of the tropical Gulf Stream. A goal of our mission is to survey natural reef (live hard bottom) habitats to determine lionfish abundance and abundances of many native grouper and tropical species. We have completed five sites from 27 to 34 nm offshore of Beaufort NC and have seen lionfish at all locations. Site locations have ranged from 110 to 125 ft deep. Visibility has been exceptional! We are keeping our fingers crossed that no hurricanes will interfere with our research during this upcoming week.
Divers are entering the water by jumping off the NOAA ship Nancy Foster
and then swimming down to the seafloor by following a float and
line attached to an anchor that marks the site location. In this image
Doug Kesling of NOAA's Undersea Research Center is in mid-air as he makes
his entry into North Carolina gulf stream waters.
Courtesy of Thomas Nassif.
Once on the seafloor divers survey the sites to characterize the marine species. Video and still camera photography is often used to document the habitat and the entire community, as well as the invasive Indo- Pacific lionfish. In this image, Paula Whitfield from NOAA's Beaufort NC laboratory is videoing the site.
Courtesy of Doug Kesling.
Another research goal is to determine the impact lionfish have on native communities. Along with population monitoring we are also examining lionfish diet and reproduction. Lionfish may be competing with other predators such as the native red grouper and black sea bass shown together in this image.
Courtesy of Doug Kesling.