|
Area
|
Emphasis |
~ Number of Days |
| The Yucatan Peninsula – Belize and Mexico |
Explore deep reefs of Belize and Mexico, comparing protected vs. unprotected sites. |
20 |
| Loop Current |
Assess the influence of the Loop Current on habitats in the northern Gulf of Mexico. |
3 |
| Flower Garden Banks - Texas |
Assess factors limiting growth and distribution of reefs at the Flower Gardens. |
6 |
| West Florida Shelf |
Continue exploration of paleoshorelines and the quantity and quality of habitat and species in recently established protected areas. |
23 |
| Florida Keys |
Continue exploration of habitats in the Tortugas area in support of new management strategies. Compare viability of deep vs. shallow reefs. |
7 |
| Oculina Reserve - Florida |
Explore unique deep-water Oculina coral habitat, assess levels of recruitment on previously installed manmade structures, conduct benthic and fish surveys. |
8 |
| Sapelo Scarp - Georgia |
Explore low-relief escarpments and assess habitat characteristics. |
3 |
| Charleston Bump |
Explore deep-water habitats of this feature, which deflects the Gulf Stream. |
3 |
| The Cape Fear Terrace |
Continue habitat characterization efforts in this very unique area off the east coast of North Carolina. |
2 |
| The Lophelia Banks |
Explore deep-sea coral Lophelia banks off the coast of NC. Lophelia typically lives between 200 and 2,000 m depth, where there is no sunlight, and temperatures decrease from about 10° C at 600 m, to 4° C below 1,400 m depth. |
4 |
| The Point |
Explore deep-water areas at the heads of a system of canyons that cut into the continental shelf offshore of Hatteras, NC. |
2 |
| The Monitor |
Assess ongoing restoration and recovery efforts. |
6 |
