Monday, February 10 2025, 3:30pm Skidaway Dr. Trace Oceanic Ecology Lab Nova Southeastern University Dr. Sutton's Personnel Page Seminars Dr. Sutton will be joining us from the Guy Harvey Oceanography Research Center, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University. Title: The Evolution of Deep-Pelagic Nekton (fish, shrimp, and squid) Time-Series Research in US Waters: What is Down There, How Are Populations Doing, and Why Does it Matter? Abstract: Most people would have a hard time telling you why life in the deep ocean interior matters to society, beyond the aesthetic appeal of otherworldly creatures living on our own planet. As pelagic science has evolved, from institution-led expeditions (pre- 1960’s) to spatiotemporally limited academic research (1970’s-early 2000’s) to the current manifestation of NOAA-funded time-series research, so too has our appreciation of the biodiversity and ecosystem services of deep-pelagic communities. In this vein we will present a synopsis of one such program, the DEEPEND (Deep-Pelagic Nekton Dynamics) Consortium, borne from initial surveys to assess the offshore resource damage from Deepwater Horizon (DWH) and evolved into the largest-scale time series of its kind in oceanographic history. In the 14 years since the first survey, we have learned that the open-ocean Gulf of Mexico is astonishingly diverse, with more recorded fish species than any other marine system in US continental waters, including the coastal Gulf. We have also learned that the open Gulf is highly connected, from the surface to great depths, through interlinked ecologies and behaviors. We also learned that the open Gulf, despite its size, is not immune from human disturbance. Current population levels of deep-pelagic organisms are roughly one-third those surveyed shortly after DWH. We seek to understand the effect these declines may have on higher-level predators, many of which are managed or protected. At least 137 species of fishes, cetaceans, and seabirds utilize deep-pelagic taxa as their primary or regular prey in the Gulf. Lastly, we also seek to better understand the links between the offshore and inshore Gulf fauna, especially in areas along the continental slope that are foci for restoration activities. We will provide summaries to date, and highlight plans for upcoming work.
