EXPEDITIONS
The sanctuary sponsors, coordinates and participates in a variety of expeditions each year. In addition to research conducted within sanctuary boundaries, the team also explores and investigates outside the sanctuary.
When communications allow, research updates are posted to our Facebook page during expeditions. Summary reports are usually written following each expedition, and may be added to the web site as links from the expedition descriptions below.
Any future expedition dates listed below are subject to change due to weather, equipment, and scheduling issues.
2014 EXPEDITION SCHEDULE
January 17-21, 2014
Multibeam, R/V MANTA
- Testing of TAMU's new multibeam system from R/V MANTA
February 23-25, 2014
Water Quality, R/V MANTA
- Maintenance of water quality instruments, collection of water samples.
April 15-May 5, 2014
Yard Maintenance, R/V MANTA
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May 15-17, 2014
Water Quality, R/V MANTA
- Maintenance of water quality instruments, collection of water samples.
May 18-23, 2014
UT Geology Class, R/V MANTA
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May 26-June 1, 2014
Dellapenna, R/V MANTA
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June 3-7, 2014
Dellapenna2, R/V MANTA
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June 16-23, 2014
TAMUG (DiMarco), R/V MANTA
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June 28, 2013
TAMU, R/V MANTA
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group (GERG), Department of Oceanography, and Texas A&M Galveston testing of new Slocum gliders.
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July 2-5, 2014
SB LTM, R/V MANTA
- Collection of long-term monitoring data at Stetson Bank.
July 8-11, 2014
LTM Refurbishment,
R/V MANTA
- Refurbishing lateral growth coral monitoring stations.
July 22-25, 2014
FGB LTM, R/V MANTA
- Collection of long-term monitoring
data at East and West Flower Garden Banks.
August 11-13, 2014
MOCNESS Training (TAMUG), R/V MANTA
- Training with new MOCNESS (Multiple Opening and Closing Net with an Environmental Sensing System).
August15-17, 2014
Coral Spawning, R/V MANTA
- Observation and data collection during annual mass spawning of corals.
August 29-30, 2014
DiMarco Glider Deployment (TAMU), R/V MANTA
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September 6-9, 2014
FGBNMS LTM and Catlin Seaview, R/V MANTA
- Collection of long-term monitoring
images at East Flower Garden Bank and testing of Catlin Seaview camera system.
October 20-24, 2014
ROV I, R/V MANTA
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October 27-31, 2014
ROV II, R/V MANTA
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November 12-14, 2014
Water Quality, R/V MANTA
- Maintenance of water quality instruments, collection of water samples.
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PRIOR EXPEDITIONS
2013 Expeditions
2012 Expeditions
2011 Expeditions
2010 Expeditions
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CONDUCTING RESEARCH
If you are interested in conducting research on one of our expeditions, please contact Emma.Hickerson@noaa.gov for more information.
EXPEDITIONS OUTSIDE THE SANCTUARY
A question frequently asked by sanctuary constituents is "Why do sanctuary staff conduct research outside the sanctuary?" There are a couple of reasons:
- The Flower Garden and Stetson Banks do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of the
Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Sanctuary resources cannot be protected if we do not know
what is happening outside the boundaries that may affect the resources within the
boundaries.
Click on the map to get a larger view
An excellent example of this is the recent realization that the sea floor
between the many banks scattered across the continental shelf is far
from the flat, featureless expansion it was once thought to be. Rather, the banks are
connected by low-relief outcroppings, potentially providing a kind of "fish highway"
where animals can move between banks and still have a little protection and food source
for the journey.
If the sanctuary team had restricted its explorations, this discovery
would have taken longer.
- The world of knowledge and research techniques is constantly expanding. Like any other professionals, researchers must remain sharp and current on their knowledge and skills so that the sanctuary can benefit from the latest innovations.
Participating in non-sanctuary research projects is a kind of continuing education for sanctuary staff, allowing exchanges with researchers from different regions and disciplines.
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