CE15009 QuERCi QUantifying EnviRonmental Controls on cold-water coral reef growth survey

This survey, led by University College Cork (UCC), took place on board the Marine Institute's R.V. Celtic Explorer in June 2015. The survey was carried out to study cold-water coral reefs in two different Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), the Belgica Mound SAC and the Porcupine Bank Canyon SAC, in differing seabed contexts. This survey produced new mapping coverages of the Moira Mounds whose location, distribution and abundance were vaguely known previously. Groundtruthing using ROV (Holland 1) inspection verified the maps. Reconnaisance mapping of the number of cold-water coral reef mounds was carried out. The ROV was used to record video footage of the corals. CTD (Conductivity, Temperature and Depth) profiles obtained and gravity core sampling carried out to quantitatively investigate biomineralized microfauna, coupled with geochemical analyses. The main purpose of the survey was to - elucidate and quantify the abiotic (allogenic) controls on cold-water reef development in Irish waters and in general. Two distinct settings were focued on: the Moira Mounds (Belgica Mound province) and the Porcupine Bank Canyon Mounds. - evaluate the status of cold-water coral reefs in these two SAC to increase our understanding of the habitat; in the Porcupine Bank Canyon SAC this will be the first detailed investigation. - define and extend the known geographic distribution of cold-water coral reefs (Moira Mounds) in the Belgica Mound Province beyond the SAC and existing high resolution map coverages.