@article {ISI:000372166500012,
	title = {{Oceanographic patterns and carbonate chemistry in the vicinity of cold-water coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico: Implications for resilience in a changing ocean}},
	journal = {LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY},
	volume = {61},
	number = {2},
	year = {2016},
	month = {mar},
	pages = {648{\textendash}665},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {To accurately assess the threat that global climate change poses to marine systems, a detailed baseline of the current carbonate chemistry and other oceanographic conditions is required. Despite the heightened vulnerability of deep-sea communities to ocean acidification, there have been relatively few studies investigating the carbonate chemistry immediately above cold-water coral reefs. Here, we present data collected during five cruises from 2010 to 2014 in the northern Gulf of Mexico and quantify the carbonate system and other oceanographic parameters in offshore surface-waters, the water column, and at deep benthic sites. Benthic sites containing the scleractinian cold-water coral L. pertusa occurred in waters with a relatively wide temperature range (6.8-13.6 degrees C), low potential density (sigma(theta)=26.9 +/- 0.3 kg m(-3)), low dissolved oxygen concentration (111.3 +/- 2.0 mu mol kg(-1)), low pH(T) (7.87 +/- 0.04), low Omega(ARAG) (1.31 +/- 0.14), and a low availability of carbonate ions (94.4 +/- 9.2 mu mol kg(-1)) compared with L. pertusa habitats in other regions. Based on previous modelling and experimental results, these values place L. pertusa at the edge of its viable niche in the deep Gulf of Mexico. However, significantly elevated total alkalinity (+139-44 mu mol kg(-1)) was detected above large L. pertusa mounds, suggesting that carbonate dissolution within the mounds may be partially ameliorating the direct effects of ocean acidification. Together, these results provide an important baseline for assessing future oceanographic changes in the Gulf of Mexico and for predicting the resilience of cold-water coral reefs to global climate and ocean change.},
	keywords = {HOV Alvin (Human Occupied Vehicle), ROV Jason (Remotely Operated Vehicle)},
	issn = {0024-3590},
	doi = {10.1002/lno.10242},
	author = {Georgian, Samuel E and DeLeo, Danielle and Durkin, Alanna and Gomez, Carlos E and Kurman, Melissa and Lunden, Jay J and Cordes, Erik E}
}
@article {ISI:000332225300011,
	title = {{Spatial patterns of tissue stable isotope contents give insight into the nutritional sources for seep communities on the Gulf of Mexico lower slope}},
	journal = {MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES},
	volume = {498},
	year = {2014},
	pages = {133{\textendash}U481},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {In this study, we present the first thorough trophic characterization of cold seep macrofaunal communities on the Gulf of Mexico lower continental slope ({\textgreater} 1000 m depth). We analyzed tissue delta C-13, delta N-15, and delta S-34 of vestimentiferan tubeworms, bathymodiolin mussels, vesicomyid clams, and their associated macrofaunal communities from discrete collections made across the entire lower slope. Over half of macrofauna associated with mussels and about half associated with vestimentiferans had delta C-13 values below -45{\%}. We also observed high spatial variability in the delta C-13 values of entire local communities, and the delta C-13 of associated fauna were significantly correlated with the delta C-13 compositions of the symbiotic species from the same location. These data indicate widespread incorporation of methane-derived carbon in mussel and vestimentiferan communities. This finding was particularly surprising in communities associated with older vestimentiferans, given the low rates of seepage observed in similar communities on the upper slope. On average, delta N-13 values in mussels and their associates were significantly more depleted and more variable than vestimentiferans, clams, and their associates, and there was a significant linear relationship between tissue delta N-15 values of mussels and their associated communities. The tissue delta S-34 values in macrofauna associated with vestimentiferans were more variable and significantly more depleted than mussel associates (delta S-34 = -16.8 to + 19.1{\%} for vestimentiferan associates and delta S-34 = -3.1 to + 20.8{\%} for mussel associates), consistent with higher isotopic fractionation during sulfate reduction in vestimentiferan habitats and a potentially higher nutritional contribution of sulfide-derived organic sulfur in vestimentiferan communities.},
	keywords = {HOV Alvin (Human Occupied Vehicle), ROV Jason (Remotely Operated Vehicle)},
	issn = {0171-8630},
	doi = {10.3354/meps10598},
	author = {Becker, Erin L and Cordes, Erik E and Macko, Stephen A and Lee, Raymond W and Fisher, Charles R}
}
