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First visual occurrence data for deep-sea cnidarians in the South-western Colombian Caribbean

Citation

Dueñas L F, Puentes V (2018): First visual occurrence data for deep-sea cnidarians in the South-western Colombian Caribbean. v1.1. Anadarko Colombia Company. Dataset/Occurrence. https://doi.org/10.15472/o8xonn accessed via GBIF.org on 2022-05-27.

Description

Interest in the deep seas has increased dramatically in the last decade, due to the potential presence of natural resources. Although Colombia holds a large submerged territory, knowledge of the seabed and its biodiversity beyond a depth of 1000 meters is very limited. During 2015-2017, Anadarko Colombia Company (ACC) carried out hydrocarbon exploratory activities in the Southern Colombian Caribbean, at depths between 375 m and 2500 m. As an opportunistic result from these activities, several organisms from different phyla were spotted in ROV and towed camera surveys. We analysed a total of 9h 9min 26sec of video and 5066 photographs, looking for benthic and pelagic megafauna. The images were separated by Phylum and Class, and the cnidarians were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. The data presented here corresponds to 108 occurrences of deep-sea cnidarians and one ctenophore. This is the first of a series of datasets reporting visual confirmations on the occurrences of deep-sea organisms in the Colombian Caribbean.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

Anadarko Colombia Company’s hydrocarbon exploratory activities in the Southwestern Colombian Caribbean, include four wells (i.e. Gorgon A-1, Calasu 1, Kronos 1, and Purple Angel C-1), and five other areas of interest (i.e. Chamana, Chamai, Yaduli, Cana Norte, and Cawa). The exploratory wells and areas of interest are localized in the South-western Colombian Caribbean, at depths between 375 m and 2500 m. In general, wells and areas of interest are approximately 54 to 74 off shore from the nearest point in the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

Sampling

Occurrences of cnidarians were registered from ROV surveys and towed camera surveys using videos and still images. Sampling included soft bottoms in the Colombian Caribbean from 375 m to 2500 m.

Quality Control

Videos were analyzed twice for the presence of cnidarians, by two different experts in different times. This methodology allowed us to ensure all cnidarians were registered. Still images were also analyzed twice by the same expert, who did a preliminary identification to Phylum and Class. All cnidarian images were then identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, and when in doubt of an identification, we sent the images to additional experts. Photographs were cropped to include only the organism, and we performed image correction to reduce the blueish colour cast with the Auto Tone function in Adobe Photoshop CC 2018.

Method steps

  1. ROV surveys ROV video surveys consisted of 80 meter-long transects in cross fashion, north, south, east, and west, from a central point that could be a transponder (tool for positioning of the drilling vessel) or the exact drilling location. Video-transects mainly included soft bottom images and few of them recorded pelagic megafauna. Videos were taken before and after drilling for the wells Kronos 1, Calasu 1, Gorgon A-1, and Purple Angel C-1. Additionally, for Kronos 1 and Calasu 1 there was a video survey during drilling. We analysed 48 video transects (duration: 9h 9min 26sec), looking for benthic and pelagic fauna. We took snapshots of each organism (cnidarian and non-cnidarian), registered coordinates and depth, and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Towed camera surveys Areas of interest (i.e. Chamana, Chamai, Yaduli, Cana Norte, and Cawa) were assessed using twenty-five (25) towed camera transects. These transects registered seafloor features, during a 3-hour survey and taking still images every 20 seconds. Benthic and pelagic megafauna were recorded in the images. We analysed a total of 5066 photographs, looking for benthic and pelagic fauna. For each organism (cnidarian and non-cnidarian) coordinates and depth were registered, and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. We cropped the photographs to include only the organism, and performed image correction to reduce the blueish colour cast with the Auto Tone function in Adobe Photoshop CC 2018. Taxonomic identifications
    Using photographs and video footage, all the organisms were grouped to Phylum and Class. In this paper, we only highlight the occurrences for the Phylum Cnidaria. Cnidarians were further identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, based on comparison with literature, databases and with the help of taxonomic experts from each group. The taxonomy here presented is in accordance to the World Register of Marine Species – WORMS (http://www.marinespecies.org/).

Taxonomic Coverages

The data presented here corresponds to occurrences of deep-sea Cnidarians and one Ctenophore from the South-western Colombian Caribbean, spotted over soft bottoms at depths between 375 to 2565 m.
  1. Poralia rufescens
    rank: species
  2. Hydrozoa
    rank: class
  3. Semaeostomeae
    rank: family
  4. Rhopalonematidae
    rank: family
  5. Narcomedusae
    rank: order
  6. Actiniaria
    rank: order
  7. Ceriantharia
    rank: order
  8. Corallimorphus
    rank: genus
  9. Hormathiidae
    rank: family
  10. Kadosactinidae
    rank: family
  11. Bathypathes patula
    rank: species
  12. Virgulariidae
    rank: family
  13. Trichogorgia lyra
    rank: species
  14. Umbellula
    rank: genus
  15. Chrysogorgiidae
    rank: family
  16. Epizoanthus stellaris
    rank: species
  17. Adamsia
    rank: genus
  18. Phelliactis
    rank: genus

Geographic Coverages

Anadarko Colombia Company’s hydrocarbon exploratory activities in the Southwestern Colombian Caribbean, include four wells (i.e. Gorgon A-1, Calasu 1, Kronos 1, and Purple Angel C-1), and five other areas of interest (i.e. Chamana, Chamai, Yaduli, Cana Norte, and Cawa). The exploratory wells and areas of interest are localized in the South-western Colombian Caribbean, at depths between 375 m and 2500 m. In general, wells and areas of interest are approximately 54 to 74 off shore from the nearest point in the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Luisa Fernanda Dueñas
originator
position: Scientific Advisor
Anadarko Colombia Company
Calle 113 No. 7-80 Piso 11
Bogotá
Distrito Capital
CO
Telephone: 7954016
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0756-826X
Vladimir Puentes
originator
position: Senior Environmental Advisor
Anadarko Colombia Company
Calle 113 No. 7-80 Piso 11
Bogotá
Distrito Capital
CO
Telephone: 7954006
email: vladimir.puentes@anadarko.com
Luisa Fernanda Dueñas
metadata author
position: Scientific Advisor
Anadarko Colombia Company
Calle 113 No. 7-80 Piso 11
Bogotá
Distrito Capital
CO
Telephone: 7954016
email: luisa.duenas@anadarko.com
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0756-826X
Vladimir Puentes
administrative point of contact
position: Senior Environmental Advisor
Anadarko Colombia Company
Calle 113 No. 7-80 Piso 11
Bogotá
Distrito Capital
CO
Telephone: 7954006
email: vladimir.puentes@anadarko.com
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