In 2024, scientists found a very diverse soft coral garden on steep underwater slopes in the Funk Island Marine Refuge. This coral garden had more soft corals than have ever been seen in this area before. Other cold-water corals are already known to be important for creating habitats, but the role of soft corals—especially in large numbers like at Funk Island—has not yet been studied. These corals may play an important role as potential nursery grounds for other species.  

This area is likely sensitive to climate change and ocean acidification, so it’s important to use tools that don’t disturb the habitat to study it. The detail of underwater maps (called resolution) is very important and allows scientists to better understand complex habitats. Multibeam bathymetry can provide information about the seafloor features and is used to create maps that help find soft coral habitats. Scientists can then use underwater cameras to confirm what’s really there. 

With these images, they can count coral and other species and learn about what types of creatures live together. New technology—like stereo cameras and computer programs such as SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)—lets scientists make colorful, 3D maps of the seafloor. These maps help us better understand how the shape of the habitat affects the number and types of species living there.