Dense fields of Lophelia pertusa, a common reef-building coral, have been found on the Blake Plateau knolls. The white coloring is healthy - deep-sea corals don’t rely on symbiotic algae, so they can’t bleach. Similar areas will be targeted for ROV dives on the upcoming expedition.
Lophelia Coral
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep 2019. Download larger version (jpg, 1.8 MB).
Dense fields of Lophelia pertusa, a common reef-building coral, have been found on the Blake Plateau knolls. The white coloring is healthy - deep-sea corals don’t rely on symbiotic algae, so they can’t bleach. Similar areas will be targeted for ROV dives on the upcoming expedition.
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