Time to Talk Bigscales!
Hi Everyone!
It’s Natalie, second-time cruiser writing to you from DeSoto Canyon. As mentioned, this is my second time on the R/V Point Sur with the DEEPEND|RESTORE group, but it’s my first time participating in the Deep Sea Benefits project. I’m excited to be reunited with a great group of scientists and to see the incredible diversity that the Gulf has to offer.
My Ph.D. research focuses on the ecology and taxonomy of family Melamphaidae, a group of mesopelagic fishes also known as Bigscales. This family is fairly different from the variety that we see out here in the Gulf. Unlike many of the charismatic deep-sea species we encounter, Melamphaids lack photophores, bioluminescence, and other more obvious adaptations to life in the deep. This makes them a bit harder to identify, as it takes more work to determine the “who’s who” of what you’re looking at. As of Sunday, I have a whopping total of 6 Melamphaids from the MOCNESS. Not exactly a taxonomic jackpot, but you never know what the next net will bring! The following picture is an image of Scopelogadus sp. that came up in great condition.
Image 1: Photo of Scopelogadus sp. collected from trawl 22
One of the best parts of these cruises are the sheer diversity of fish species we’re encountering in the net tows. A personal favorite of mine so far has been from suborder Scorpaenoidei (thought to be a scorpionfish group)- check out those colors! Interestingly, many of these vivid colors serve as warning signal. This essentially tells predators, “Don’t eat me.” In many cases, that warning is backed up by venomous spines, making these fish a risky snack. As juveniles, they usually occupy the midwater zone of the water column. However, after undergoing an ontogenetic shift, Scorpaenoidei generally transition to benthic communities, where they spend most of their time near or on the seafloor.
Image 2: Photo of Scorpaenoidei
While this has been fun, it’s time to get back to sampling! More posts and cool photos to come soon.
- Natalie
