1. Acknowledgements Dana Dawson, McNair Director Kristy Cordero, STEM Graduate Extern The McNair Scholars Program Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management and NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration Methods Subjects: 5-10 Lophelia “nubbins” collected using the ROV Jason during the NOAA Lophelia II Expedition in October of 2010. The corals were supported in PVC base by HoldFast Expoxy, held in a 120 gallon aquarium at 8- 9°C and constant light conditions. Data Collection: Hourly photographs were collected onto a Canon EOS 50D with a 17-85mm lens using the Canon TC-80N3 intervalometer. Photos exhibiting discoloration were AutoCorrected in Photoshop CS3, but otherwise unaltered. In total, 2100+ images were manually evaluated for the number of visible polyps, the visible presence of community associates (such as benthic snails, tube worms, a squat lobster), and the direction and distance moved by each motile organism between slides. The data was assembled in an Excel spreadsheet and will be subject to correlational analysis in MATLab. Regulation Patterns in the Opening of Coral Polyps Chloe Glynn, Jay Lunden, Erik Cordes Department of Biology, Temple University Philadelphia Abstract Lophelia pertusa is a cold-water, reef-forming coral. The colonies found in the deep benthos of the Gulf of Mexico represent an important sea-floor ecosystem, as Lophelia reefs create dimensionally complex habitats for a number of diverse taxa. Until recently, in situ evaluation of these community structures was limited by accessibility. As part of understanding the behavioral relationships present in coral communities, hourly photographs of Lophelia “nubbins” in aquaria have been since late August of 2011. Preliminary analysis of these photographs suggests the coral polyps diurnally regulate their patterns of opening. Background Over 1300 species have been discovered living on Lophelia reefs, with up to 34% of species suspected to be endemic. [1] This diversity is believed to result from the complex, three-dimensional habitats created by its branching skeleton, supporting a community structure subject to unique interactions. [2] Although not currently endangered, Lophelia is afforded a CITES II protection status, indicating vulnerability to future extinction. Preliminary Results Initial results indicate there is some regulated patterning to when corals are active and visible. The polyps had a significant observable response to feeding cycles and seem to exist on a day/night cycle where the majority of activity is limited to the evening and early morning hours. Discussion Although the polyps display time-sensitive patterns of opening and closing, the colonies sampled exist well below the photic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. The residual, circadian schedule may indicate phylogenetic history and relationship with tropical corals found in the photic zone. Current testing indicates that several species of octocoral now found in shallow waters originated and diversified in the deep-sea before encroaching upon shallow ecosystems. [3] Future Recommendations:  Establish several week in situ reef observation  Determine phylogenetic histories for more coral species  Expand noninvasive exploration to document endemic species  Limit off-shore drilling until further assessment can be made References [1]Roberts, J.M., Wheeler, A.J., Freiwald, A., 2006. Reefs of the Deep: The Biology and Geology of Cold-Water Coral Ecosystems. Science. 312, 543-547. [2] Roberts, J.M., 2005. Reef-aggregating behaviour by symbiotic eunicid polychaetes from cold-water corals: do worms assemble reefs? J. Mar. Bio. Ass. U.K.. 85, 813-819. [3] Lindner A, Cairns SD, Cunningham CW (2008) From Offshore to Onshore: Multiple Origins of Shallow-Water Corals from Deep-Sea Ancestors. PLoS ONE 3(6): e2429. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002429