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Scientific Assessment of a Proposed Marine National Monument off the Northeast United States

Authors:
Scott D Kraus at New England Aquarium
Scott D Kraus
Peter Auster at University of Connecticut & Mystic Aquarium
Peter Auster
  • University of Connecticut & Mystic Aquarium
Jon D. Witman at Brown University
Jon D. Witman
Brooke Hodge at New England Aquarium
Brooke Hodge
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We conducted an analysis to assess the conservation value of a proposed Marine National Monument in federal waters off the Northeast United States inclusive of three units (1) the Cashes Ledge Complex in the central Gulf of Maine consisting of Cashes Ledge, Sigsbee Ridge and Fippennies Ledge; (2) a southern unit of the canyons and seamounts along the continental margin of Georges Bank inclusive of Oceanographer, Gilbert and Lydonia Canyons and Bear, Physalia, Retriever and Mytilus seamounts; and (3) a northern canyons unit including Nygren and Heezen Canyons adjacent to the U.S.-Canada boundary. Together these areas contain at least nine exemplars of sensitive and vulnerable offshore northwest Atlantic communities and habitats (e.g., kelp forest, deep shelf invertebrates, shelf fish, deep sea corals & sponges in canyons and on seamounts, deep sea fish, chemosynthetic communities, deep sea soft sediment, shelf and shelf edge cetaceans). These areas exhibit high habitat diversity and connectivity, hot spots of high species richness and abundance (benthic invertebrates, fish, marine mammals), cold spots containing species that are not subsets of hot spot areas (e.g., xenophyophores). They function as source habitats for spillover including commercial species (e.g., deep sea corals, Atlantic cod), and include many species with very long recovery times and extremely low resilience. Currently these areas are subject to minimal human disturbance by bottom fishing but the effects of pelagic fisheries remain. Future threats include directed seafloor and pelagic fisheries within the proposed monument areas, oil and gas exploration and drilling, methane hydrate mining and manganese crust mining. Permanent protection as a Marine National Monument would maximize the potential for conserving these important ecological attributes. The slide presentation herein was used to brief interested parties and the media on these results. Manuscripts fully describing these results are forthcoming and will be submitted for publication in scientific journals. Suggested citation: Kraus, S.D., P.J. Auster, J.D. Witman, B. Wikgren, M.P. McKee and R.W. Lamb. 2016. Scientific Assessment of a Proposed Marine National Monument off the Northeast United States. Science briefing for press and interested parties. Final version 31 March 2016. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.1.1268.1360
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Scientific Assessment of a Proposed Marine National Monument off the Northeast United States
Scott D. Kraus1, Peter J. Auster2, Jon D. Witman3, Brooke Wikgren1, Michael P. McKee2 and Robert W. Lamb3
1New England Aquarium, Boston MA; 2Mystic Aquarium, Mystic CT; 3Brown University, Providence RI
We conducted an analysis to assess the conservation value of a proposed Marine National Monument in federal waters off
the Northeast United States inclusive of three units (1) the Cashes Ledge Complex in the central Gulf of Maine consisting of
Cashes Ledge, Sigsbee Ridge and Fippennies Ledge; (2) a southern unit of the canyons and seamounts along the continental
margin of Georges Bank inclusive of Oceanographer, Gilbert and Lydonia Canyons and Bear, Physalia, Retriever and Mytilus
seamounts; and (3) a northern canyons unit including Nygren and Heezen Canyons adjacent to the U.S.-Canada boundary.
Together these areas contain at least nine exemplars of sensitive and vulnerable offshore northwest Atlantic communities
and habitats (e.g., kelp forest, deep shelf invertebrates, shelf fish, deep sea corals & sponges in canyons and on seamounts,
deep sea fish, chemosynthetic communities, deep sea soft sediment, shelf and shelf edge cetaceans). These areas exhibit
high habitat diversity and connectivity, hot spots of high species richness and abundance (benthic invertebrates, fish,
marine mammals), cold spots containing species that are not subsets of hot spot areas (e.g., xenophyophores). They
function as source habitats for spillover including commercial species (e.g., deep sea corals, Atlantic cod), and include many
species with very long recovery times and extremely low resilience. Currently these areas are subject to minimal human
disturbance by bottom fishing but the effects of pelagic fisheries remain. Future threats include directed seafloor and
pelagic fisheries within the proposed monument areas, oil and gas exploration and drilling, methane hydrate mining and
manganese crust mining. Permanent protection as a Marine National Monument would maximize the potential for
conserving these important ecological attributes. The slide presentation herein was used to brief interested parties and the
media on these results. Manuscripts fully describing these results are forthcoming and will be submitted for publication in
scientific journals.
Suggested citation: Kraus, S.D., P.J. Auster, J.D. Witman, B. Wikgren, M.P. McKee and R.W. Lamb. 2016. Scientific
Assessment of a Proposed Marine National Monument off the Northeast United States. Science briefing for press and
interested parties. Final version 31 March 2016. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.1.1268.1360
Scientific Assessment of
a Proposed Marine
National Monument
off the Northeast
United States
Cashes Ledge Complex
Submarine Canyons
& Seamounts
1
Top: Brett Seymour; Bottom:2013 Northeast U.S. Canyons
Science Team, NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program;
Scott D. Kraus1, Peter J. Auster2, Jon
D. Witman3, Brooke Wikgren1,
Michael P. McKee2 & Robert W. Lamb3
1New England Aquarium, Boston MA
2Mystic Aquarium, Mystic CT
3Brown University, Providence RI
Methods and Criteria for Identifying and Quantifying the
Characteristics of the Proposed Monument Areas
•Landscape & habitat diversity
•Species richness (# species)
•Abundance (# animals)
•“Hot spots” & “cold spots”
•Rare-unique species,
habitats and communities
•Sensitive to disturbance
•Long recovery times if
damaged
•Low ecological resilience
•Relatively undisturbed
ecosystems
•Exemplars of Atlantic ocean
wildlife habitats
Kelp forest
Deep sea corals
Chemosynthetic communities
Marine mammals
2
Areas of precipitous
topography and high
structural complexity
exhibit high diversity per
unit area and support
unique communities of
organisms.
•wide depth ranges
•steep environmental gradients
•complex topography
•impinging currents /internal waves
•topography-induced upwellings
•produces a mosaic of diverse
habitat types and associated
communities across the landscape
Map data from: Battista et al. 2006. NOAA Tech Mem
NOS NCCOS 45. p. 7.
High landscape diversity
3
Spatial distribution of
benthic data sets
Use of all available data from
multiple modes of sampling:
• grab, dredge, sled
• trawl
• occupied sub, ROV, sled
• n = 25,036 observations
• patterns of known
biodiversity (Kelly et al.
2010 PLoS)
4
Image: 2013 Northeast U.S. Canyons Science Team,
NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program;
Aerial and Shipboard
Marine Mammal
Survey Effort
All aerial and survey effort
(km of on-watch trackline) in
the NARWC database (which
includes marine mammals,
seabirds, sea turtles, sharks).
5
Images courtesy S. Kraus
Interpretation based on:Witman, J. D. and K. P. Sebens. 1988. In. I. Babb and M. De Luca (Eds) Benthic Productivity and Marine Resources of the Gulf of Maine.
Brian Skerry photo
Gradient of habitats
across depth:
• Rocky ridge
• Boulder field
• Sand & gravel
• Mud basin
Community boundaries at:
28-40 m – kelp forest
40-65 m – suspension feeding invertebrates
65-90 m – cobble-soft sediment/burrowing anemones
Bathymetry
Cashes Ledge
Complex
6
P. Auster/Example of typical habitat
J. Witman
Topographic Roughness Index
Cashes Ledge
Complex topography yields:
• High diversity
• High prey subsidy
• High connectivity among
adjacent habitats
7
All images courtesy J. Witman
14.6 invertebrate species per 0.25 m 2 .Higher
than 6 other sites at same depth in GOM
(Witman 1996 RARGOM Report 96-1)
Resident predator, red color variety
of Atlantic cod (Sherwood &
Grabowski 2010 ICES JMS)
Benthic Species Richness
Cashes Ledge
• Highest kelp biomass Cashes Ledge vs coastal sites
• Largest continuous kelp forest on northeast shelf
• 500 x greater fish biomass than at coastal sites at
the same depth (15 m)
• Recovery time invertebrate community 7 – 200+ yrs
• Resident cod population – role as top predator
8
J. Witman
(Kelp forest and fish biomass based on Witman unpublished data; recovery times based on Hill et al. 2004, Am Nat.)
9
Cashes Ledge Complex – Whales & Dolphins
Hot Spot Analysis – Whales & Dolphins
10
Topographic Roughness Index
Canyons & Seamounts
Precipitous features in multiple depth,
oceanographic and geologic settings. 11
Images: Top – P. Auster/DeepEast Science Team/Alvin/WHOI/NOAA; All others P. Auster & Science Teams/IFE/NOAA
Species Richness
Canyons & Seamounts
• Total observed species
richness for shelf edge to
deep sea region.
• 2013 Okeanos cruise alone
added 24 putative coral
species and three fishes to
the known regional fauna 12
Images: Courtesy P. Auster/JSL/DeepEast & MITS Science Team/Alvin/WHOI/FE/NOAA
Deep sea community zones Community composition by
depth zone
For continental margin based on Hecker
1990, Haedrich et al. 1980:
200-700 m - upper slope
700-1200 m - upper middle slope
1200 - 1300 m - transitional slope
1300 - 2400 + m lower slope
For seamounts based on Cho 2000:
<1300 m
1300-2300 m
2300-2600 m
>2600 m
13
Images: Courtesy P. Auster/NURTEC/UConn/MITS Science Team/Alvin/WHOI/FE/Okeanos/NOAA OE
Deep sea coral distribution
based on occurrence
Species rich region - Minimum 73
putative coral taxa from aggregate
data sets with 615 coral occurrences
in study area. Likely more to come!
•New species
• Associated species
• Extraordinary size
and ecological setting
14
Images: Courtesy P. Auster/DeepEast & MITS Science Team/Alvin/WHOI/FE/
Okeanos/NOAA OE
Predicted deep sea coral distribution
15
From: Kinlan BP, Poti M, Drohan A, Packer DB, Nizinski M, Dorfman D, Caldow C. 2013. Digital data: Predictive models of deep-sea coral habitat suitability in the U.S.
Northeast Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic regions. Downloadable digital data package. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography
Branch. Released August 2013. 15
Cold seeps & chemosynthetic
communities
Skarke et al. 2014. Nature Geoscience 7(9): 657–661.
All images from 2013 Northeast U.S. Canyons Science Team, NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program 16
17
Canyons & Seamounts – Whales & Dolphins
18
Hot Spot Analysis – Whales & Dolphins
Footprint of mobile
gear fisheries
• Minimal overlap with squid and
mackerel.
• Does not include offshore lobster,
red crab , recreational or
pelagic fisheries for highly
migratory species.
Future potential threats include:
• Additional fishing including pelagic
• Oil and gas exploration-drilling
• Methane hydrate mining
• Manganese crust mining
19
Images: Courtesy P. Auster/DeepEast & MITS Science Team/Alvin/WHOI/FE/Okeanos/NOAA OE
What is the Scientific Case for the Cashes Complex and
Canyons & Seamounts Monuments?
• At least nine exemplars of offshore northwest Atlantic communities and
habitats (e.g., kelp forest, deep shelf invertebrates, shelf fish, deep sea corals
& sponges in canyons and on seamounts, deep sea fish, chemosynthetic
communities, deep sea soft sediment, shelf edge cetaceans)
• Areas of high habitat diversity & connectivity
• Areas of high species richness – hot spots – and abundance (benthic
invertebrates, fish, marine mammals)
• Function as source habitats including commercial species
• Many species sensitive to disturbance and vulnerable to human activities –
very long recovery times and extremely low resilience
20
Left: 2013 Northeast U.S. Canyons Science Team, NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program; Right: Brett Seymour
Location details
21
... As a result of the complex interactions between topography and oceanography, the canyons and seamounts within the Monument are biodiversity hotspots and protect outstanding examples of our marine biological heritage that are scientific objects of national significance. Hotspots have been identified for seafloor diversity (including deep sea corals, sponges, deep sea fish, and coldseep chemosynthetic species; Kraus et al., 2016;Figures 2B,C). Many species function as ecosystem engineers within canyon and seamount communities [e.g., American lobster Homarus americanus and tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps burrow into canyon walls and produce small-scale habitat complexity; deep-sea corals support species-specific commensals; both types of interactions (i.e., species and habitat) enhance local biological diversity; Cooper et al., 1987a;Auster et al., 2005;Watling et al., 2011]. ...
... Many species function as ecosystem engineers within canyon and seamount communities [e.g., American lobster Homarus americanus and tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps burrow into canyon walls and produce small-scale habitat complexity; deep-sea corals support species-specific commensals; both types of interactions (i.e., species and habitat) enhance local biological diversity; Cooper et al., 1987a;Auster et al., 2005;Watling et al., 2011]. Whales, dolphins, seabirds, sea turtles, and pelagic fishes (tunas, billfish, and sharks) exhibit high abundance and diversity along the continental shelf edge (CeTAP, 1982;Powers, 1984;Hain et al., 1985;Winn, 1986, 1987;Palka, 2012;Kraus et al., 2016). Further, analyses of whale and dolphin sighting data demonstrate both abundance and diversity hot-spots of whales and dolphins in the monument area (Figures 3A-D). ...
... Dense aggregations of fish and squid that feed on krill and small fishes have been observed in these areas, which explains the high density and diversity of marine mammals in canyon environments (Moors-Murphy, 2014). The occurrence of marine mammals in the monument area is remarkably high in terms of both abundance and diversity (CeTAP, 1982;Winn, 1986, 1987;Payne and Heinemann, 1993;Palka, 2012;Kraus et al., 2016) hosting at least 10 dolphin species, seven large whale species, and six medium whale species. In this latter group, the monument is home to the extreme deep diving species on the planet, the beaked whales (Waring et al., 2001). ...
A Scientific Basis for Designation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
Article
Full-text available
  • Jul 2020
The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (NECSMNM) was designated by President Barack Obama in 2016, using his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The Act allows a President to proclaim as national monuments "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest" that are "upon the lands owned or controlled" by the United States but to reserve each designation to "the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected." Protection in general excludes commercial scale extraction and is in perpetuity. Here we present analyses of physiographic and ecological datasets that facilitated assessment of the conservation benefits of protections for a new monument. We also review and synthesize the ecological literature to describe processes that operate in continental margin and deep-sea settings, in order to demonstrate the monument area is bounded for proper management and is an object of scientific interest. Results indicate that the current monument designation is an area of high diversity and ecological connectivity across depths and along the continental margin. The monument boundaries contain hot spots (areas of high abundance and species richness) for seafloor communities (inclusive of benthic invertebrate and demersal fish) as well as marine mammals in the epipelagic. Many species are sensitive to disturbance and vulnerable to human activities (e.g., deep-sea corals and sponges) with very long recovery times and extremely low resilience. The monument contains at least nine exemplars of offshore northwest Atlantic marine wildlife communities and habitats (e.g., deep shelf invertebrates, shelf fish, deep sea corals and sponges in canyons and on seamounts, deep sea fish, chemosynthetic communities, deep sea soft sediment, shelf edge cetaceans, and seabirds). The region is relatively undisturbed and can serve as a reference site to focus future research on ecological processes in an increasingly industrialized ocean and one subject to the synergies of regional climate effects. These results suggest that there is great potential for discovery and novel research in this first Atlantic Ocean Marine National Monument.
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