South Atlantic OCS area living marine resources study phase III: final report. Volume 1.

Date

1984

Authors

Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Minerals Management Service

Abstract

In order to better understand the possible effects of energy-or mineral-related activities on recruitment of invertebrate communities and the importance of those communities to fishes, a third phase of the study was initiated in January 1983. This aspect of the study involved three major tasks. The objectives of Task 1 were to determine short-term and long-term colonization patterns by invertebrates and fishes on artificial hard substrates. Data obtained from Task 1 studies will aid in estimating recovery periods for hard-bottom communities following defaunation and provide useful information on the development of invertebrate and fish communities associated with oil production platforms. The objective of Task 2 was to determine how changes in sediment depth over hard substratum influence the distribution and abundance of large sponges and corals found in hard-bottom areas. Results from the Task 2 study should provide useful information on the potential effects of sediment redistribution by drilling activities and aid in identifying the possible location of hard bottom areas using remote sensing techniques. The objective of Task 3 was to examine in further detail the food habits of fishes associated with hard-bottom habitat in order to determine the dependence of these fishes on hard-bottom food resources. Fish species analyzed during the first two study phases were to be further analyzed for size and depth related differences in food habits and additional species were to be examined. Volume 1 describes the three major tasks in detail. Volume II provides a listing of all data obtained from these tasks. Volume III is the Executive Summary of this report.

Description

223 pgs.

Keywords

marine biology, invertebrates, benthos, marine ecology, oil and gas exploration, development, transportation, offshore commercial and recreational fisheries, oil, mineral resources, hard-bottom invertebrates, oil production platforms, sediment depth, sponges, corals, sediment redistribution, drilling activities, remote sensing techniques, food habits, fish

Citation