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An NSF-funded research project on the transport of larvae among deep-ocean methane seeps
SALT logo by Jessica Young. Copyright 2020
Full title
Full title
Dispersal Depth and the Transport of Deep-Sea Methane-Seep Larvae Around a Biogeographic Barrier
Project Aim
Project Aim
To explore how ontogenetic migration, larval retention, dispersal depth, and planktonic larval duration interact with water currents to influence known patterns of phylogeographic and biogeographic structure in methane seeps on two sides of one of the most extensively studied biogeographic barriers in the world, the Florida peninsula.
Sampling sites in the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic margin, with bathymetry shown.
Slide show of project activities
Slide show of project activities
Research Activities
Research Activities
AUV Sentry with SyPRID collectors. Photo credit: Andy Billings, WHOI
Task 1: High-resolution sampling of larvae
Task 1: High-resolution sampling of larvae
Sampling over and near methane seeps.
Sampling devices on the sea floor at the Baltimore Canyon Observatory, at 400 m deep
Task 2: Sampling mussel beds and benthic boundary layer
Task 2: Sampling mussel beds and benthic boundary layer
Sampling the interstices of mussel beds.
Shell microscopy
Task 3: Larval identification
Task 3: Larval identification
Identification by morphological and molecular (DNA barcoding) techniques.
Mussels and crabs seen from AUV Alvin
Task 4: Biological parameters for models
Task 4: Biological parameters for models
Understanding biological parameters for the larval transport model.
Dispersal plot
Task 5: Larval transport modeling
Task 5: Larval transport modeling
Based on the CNAPS ocean prediction system from NCSU.
Collected mussel shells
Task 6: Inferences from shell microchemistry
Task 6: Inferences from shell microchemistry
To infer locations of source populations and dispersal history.
Research Cruises
Research Cruises
Visit the Arellano Lab's SALT cruise blog.
See videos of the deep ocean taken during SALT crusies on the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology's Youtube channel.
Cruise AT 42-24
Cruise AT 42-24
on the RV Atlantis, with AUV Sentry and HOV Alvin
Gulfport, MS to Morehead City, NC
24 February - 13 March 2020
Cruise EN658
Cruise EN658
on the RV Endeavor, with AUV Sentry
October 2020
track the ship in real time
follow cruise info at #SALTlarvae and @larvallab
Cruise TN-391
Cruise TN-391
on the RV Thompson, using the ROV Jason and AUV Sentry with SyPRID
Woods Hole, MA to Gulfport, MS
25 May - 21 June 2021
read the Arellano lab's cruise blog
read an OOMG undergrad research assistant's cruise blog
Track the ship in real time
Cruise AT50-04
Cruise AT50-04
on the RV Atlantis, with HOV Alvin
Pensacola, FL to Charleston, SC
13 October - 2 November 2022
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