AdamR

AdamR

Collaborator Contributions

Cancer cells treated with discodermolide, a chemical from a sponge found on deep-sea coral reefs.

Treated Cancer Cells

These cancer cells have been treated with discodermolide, a chemical obtained from a sponge that grows on deep-sea coral reefs. It prevents the cells from dividing and spreading. Learn more about deep-sea corals in the multimedia feature "Coral Gardens of the Deep Sea" and about drugs from sea creatures in our conversation with Dr.

This black coral is more than 4,200 years old. Named for the color of their skeletons, black corals come in many colors.

How old is black coral?

This deep-sea black coral from Hawaii (Leiopathes sp.) is more than 4,200 years old.

White growth emerges from a deep-sea coral sample stained pink to enable ocean scientists to measure its growth rate.

Growth Experiment

New, white growth emerges from a living deep-sea coral sample that was stained pink, enabling ocean scientists to measure its coral growth rate. Find out more about how ocean scientists study deep-sea corals in our Deep-sea Corals article.

UV light illuminates growth rings in a cross-section of 44-year-old Primnoa resedaformis coral found about 400 m (1,312 ft) deep off Newfoundland.

Coral Growth Rings

Ultraviolet light illuminates the growth rings in a cross-section of a 44-year-old deep-sea coral (Primnoa resedaeformis) collected off the coast of Newfoundland at about 1,300 feet (400 meters).

Red coral necklaces in a display window. Harvesting deep-sea coral to produce jewelry like this threatens these ecosystems.

Coral for Sale

Red coral necklaces fill a store display window. The United States annually imports around one million live coral animals from tropical reefs for use in aquariums, and is the largest documented consumer of precious red coral, commonly used in jewelry, according to a 2008 SeaWeb report (PDF).

Auster and colleagues direct a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dive on the New England Seamounts.

Scientists Conduct an ROV Dive

Peter Auster and colleagues direct a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) dive on the New England Seamounts. Three teams composed of three scientists and four ROV engineers take two 4-hour watches every day. During each dive the team decides on routes over the deep sea landscape, shoot video and still images to document coral communities and associated animals, and collects samples.

A sea lion in the Sea of Cortez observes Auster as he observes reef fishes.

Auster Diving with Sea Lion

A sea lion in the Sea of Cortez observes Dr. Peter Auster as he observes reef fishes. Learn more about deep-sea coral reefs in our Deep-sea Corals article.

Auster gets ready to study fish predators at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia.

Auster Dives on a Rock Face

Auster gets ready to study fish predators at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia.

Auster gets ready to study fish predators at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia.

Auster Prepares to Dive

Dr. Peter Auster gets ready for a dive to study the ecology of fish predators at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia.

<p>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Scientist Martha Nizinski holds a specimen of a fan sponge (<em>Phakellia</em> sp.) collected at a deep-sea coral study site off the coast of South Carolina. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Fan Sponge

Dr. Martha Nizinski holds a specimen of a fan sponge (Phakellia sp.) collected at a deep-sea coral study site off the coast of South Carolina. Deep-sea corals and sponges provide structure for a variety of other organisms, which use these habitats for protection as well as for finding food and mates.