Characterizing Spatial Distributions of Deep-Sea Corals and Chemosynthetic Communities in the US Gulf of Mexico Through Data Synthesis and Predictive Modeling

Personal Author: Goyert HF; Bassett R; Christensen J; Coleman H; Coyne M; Etnoyer PJ; Frometa J; Hourigen TF; Poti M; Salgado EJ; Williams B; Winship AJ

Publication Title: Characterizing Spatial Distributions of Deep-Sea Corals and Chemosynthetic Communities in the US Gulf of Mexico Through Data Synthesis and Predictive Modeling

Subject: Marine Biodiversity
Marine Benthic Communities
benthic; invertebrates; deep-sea corals; chemosynthetic communities; cold seeps; continental shelf; continental slope; Gulf of Mexico; habitat suitability modeling; spatial predictive modeling; occupancy models

CSE Reference: Goyert HF, Bassett R, Christensen J, Coleman H, Coyne M, Etnoyer PJ, Frometa J, Hourigen TF, Poti M, Salgado EJ, Williams B, Winship AJ (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD). 2021. Characterizing spatial distributions of deep-sea corals and chemosynthetic communities in the US Gulf of Mexico through data synthesis and predictive modeling. New Orleans (LA): US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. 3 p. Obligation No.: M15PG00020. Report No.: OCS Study BOEM 2021-027. URL: https://espis.boem.gov/Technical%20Summaries/BOEM_2021-027.pdf

Abstract: This study developed maps of the predicted spatial distributions of deep-sea corals and chemosynthetic communities in the US Gulf of Mexico to inform and support environmental risk assessments, environmental impact statements, and other decision documents related to the review of proposed offshore energy development in the region. A database of presence-absence observations of deep-sea corals and chemosynthetic communities was compiled using 22 datasets, containing data from field surveys conducted using underwater vehicles between 1988 and 2018. These observations were integrated with spatial environmental predictors depicting seafloor topography, substrate, oceanography, and geography in statistical models (occupancy models) to predict and map the estimated distributions of 44 deep-sea coral taxa and 3 chemosynthetic communities throughout the study area. The maps identify areas where these organisms are more likely and less likely to occur. In addition, maps of predicted taxonomic richness were produced for selected taxa within orders Scleractinia, Alcyonacea, and Antipatharia. Information from the maps of predicted probability of occurrence and predicted taxonomic richness can contribute to assessments of the potential impacts of offshore energy development and other activities on these sensitive benthic biota.