SECRETS OF THE GULF EXPEDITION

Secrets of the Gulf Expedition a Success

A ground-breaking expedition, featuring more than a dozen partners, kicked off February 27, 2007 with VIP and student tours of the U.S. Navy's nuclear powered research submarine NR-1 and its surface support vessel, SSV Carolyn Chouest. A media event on March 1 heralded the beginning of the expedition, which left the port of Galveston March 2nd and returned on the 10th.

The expedition built on previous work coordinated by the sanctuary and had several different, yet complementary, missions. Sanctuary researchers explored the deeper water low-relief ridges and scarps that connect the various banks along the continental shelf in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, including two of the three banks that comprise the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Their mission was to observe and document plants and animals that utilize these 'hidden highways' between the banks to determine how the sanctuary may be affected by events that occur outside its boundaries. University of Rhode Island researchers, led by Dr. Robert Ballard, explored the same areas for evidence of ancient shorelines and the people who may have lived there.

Meanwhile, in the shallower waters of the sanctuary, researchers investigated connections on the coral reef cap, including manta ray movements, conch populations, and parrot fish predation of corals. Immersion Presents, a private organization, aired 5 broadcasts of the mission each day into classrooms and informal settings such as Boys and Girls Clubs. Students at the viewing sites around the country had an opportunity to ask questions of the scientists on board the vessel. Individuals from across the country followed the expedition from the comfort of their homes through live feeds on the internet, daily mission logs and background information provided on several websites.

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