The development of research submersibles has allowedscientists of various disciplines to ask new questions and readdressold ones about the world's oceans. The Johnson Sea-Linksubmersibles are being used to discover and study deep-waterbenthic macroalgal communities in Florida and the Bahamas. Whiletheir full extent is not yet known, communities of richly diverseand abundant algae have been found in areas of suitable substrateand favorable water quality. Zonation patterns are evident inthese communities. In all cases, the deepest (to ca. 270 m)plants are crustose red algae. Fleshy algae, in particularcertain green algae, can be found in depths as great as ca. 200m. The few measurements of productivity that have been made onthese plants are higher than previously expected and indicatethat the contribution of deep-water benthic macroalgae should beincluded in global estimates of primary production. The degreeto which these plants are grazed by herbivores is unknown.Physiological studies on these algae may elucidate new mechanismsfor adaptation to their deep-water environment. Althoughresearch on these organisms is in its infancy, it is clear that astudy of the biology of deep-water macroalgae will be richlyrewarding.
Member of
Contributors
Publisher
NOAA’s Undersea Research Program
Date Issued
1988
Note
Language
Type
Genre
Form
Extent
24 p.
Subject (Topical)
Identifier
FA00007296
Additional Information
The development of research submersibles has allowedscientists of various disciplines to ask new questions and readdressold ones about the world's oceans. The Johnson Sea-Linksubmersibles are being used to discover and study deep-waterbenthic macroalgal communities in Florida and the Bahamas. Whiletheir full extent is not yet known, communities of richly diverseand abundant algae have been found in areas of suitable substrateand favorable water quality. Zonation patterns are evident inthese communities. In all cases, the deepest (to ca. 270 m)plants are crustose red algae. Fleshy algae, in particularcertain green algae, can be found in depths as great as ca. 200m. The few measurements of productivity that have been made onthese plants are higher than previously expected and indicatethat the contribution of deep-water benthic macroalgae should beincluded in global estimates of primary production. The degreeto which these plants are grazed by herbivores is unknown.Physiological studies on these algae may elucidate new mechanismsfor adaptation to their deep-water environment. Althoughresearch on these organisms is in its infancy, it is clear that astudy of the biology of deep-water macroalgae will be richlyrewarding.
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 646
This manuscript is an author version with the
final publication available and may be cited as: Hanisak, M. D., & Blair, S. M. (1988). Deep-water
benthic macroalgal communities with emphasis on Florida and the Bahamas. In C. R. Agegian (Ed.),
Biogeochemical cycling and fluxes between the deep euphotic zone and other oceanic realms (pp. 61-
83). Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Office of Undersea Research.
final publication available and may be cited as: Hanisak, M. D., & Blair, S. M. (1988). Deep-water
benthic macroalgal communities with emphasis on Florida and the Bahamas. In C. R. Agegian (Ed.),
Biogeochemical cycling and fluxes between the deep euphotic zone and other oceanic realms (pp. 61-
83). Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Office of Undersea Research.
Date Backup
1988
Date Text
1988
Date Issued (EDTF)
1988
Extension
FAU
IID
FA00007296
Person Preferred Name
Hanisak, M. Dennis
dhanisak@fau.edu
Physical Description
24 p.
Title Plain
Deep-water benthic macroalgal communities with emphasis on Florida and the Bahamas
Origin Information
1988
NOAA’s Undersea Research Program
Rockville, MD
Place
Rockville, MD
Title
Deep-water benthic macroalgal communities with emphasis on Florida and the Bahamas
Other Title Info
Deep-water benthic macroalgal communities with emphasis on Florida and the Bahamas