July 15, 2021: Small Fish
Image courtesy of Connectivity of Coral Ecosystems (CYCLE) in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico 2019. Download larger version (jpg, 5.8 MB).
In 2019, scientists began a five-year study to investigate connectivity of key coral, sponge, and fish species between shallow and mesophotic coral ecosystems of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. During the first part of the expedition, the team collected samples for genetic and chemical analyses of key sessile species and deployed Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures, or ARMS, that will be used to study the animals that colonize these three-dimensional structures which mimic the complexity of a natural reef.
This image shows a school of curious small fish attracted by the lights of remotely operated vehicle Global Explorer while conducting a night dive during the Connectivity of Coral Ecosystems (CYCLE) in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico 2019 expedition.
From: Mission Summary.