U.s. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Taxonomic Guide: Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Okeanos Explorer Cruise, 2011 U.s. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This is the first taxonomic guide of deep sea organisms for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. From April 21 to 27, 2011, the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer started their field season with a shakedown cruise primarily to field test equipment. The cruise also provided an opportunity to conduct multibeam mapping and a series of exploratory dives using the Little Hercules Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The ROV explored areas that had not been surveyed previously. Video of these opportunistic dives was analyzed for habitat types, species, and species associations. The species observations from the dives are recorded in this taxonomic guide to provide baseline characterization for this underexplored habitat in the sanctuary. This guide will be amended as more studies are added or completed.