Surviving Middle School by David McGrail

Longspine squirrelfish and yellow goatfish swimming nearby. Closeup views of a large, lacy-looking leafy algae, a small hermit crab feeding alongside the algae, and a variety of fish surrounding the glass dome of a submersible with a person inside.Ģ:40 Submersible turning above the reef then continuing with ling, Spanish hogfish and jacks swimming around it.Ģ:55 Discarded barrel on the reef, encrusted with organisms. The following video is a compilation of footage taken during ROV (remotely operated vehicle) and manned submersible explorations at McGrail Bank.Ġ:00 A bathymetric map of McGrail Bank followed by a second map showing the actual exploration tracks that the ROV and submersible traveled to acquire the following footage in an area about 180-200 feet deep (24-61 meters).Ġ:18 A small, one-person submersible sitting on the bottom at various locations, large groups of creolefish milling about in almost every part of the reef, coral and sponge areas, sponge and algae areas, grouper, snapper, blue chromis, reef butterflyfish, creole wrasse, rock beauty, large school of yellow goatfish, squirrelfish, large coral mounds, rubble and algae area, horseye jacks, submersible above the reef.Ģ:12 Creolefish swimming over reef and sand/rubble. Photo: FGBNMS/UNCW-UVP A large octocoral grows near a wire coral in mesophotic habitat at McGrail Bank. Bank butterflyfish and roughtongue bass swim through a variety of black corals and octocorals at McGrail Bank. McGrail, an oceanographer with Texas A&M University and the U.S. McGrail Bank is also designated as a Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC), which includes regulations protecting the bottom habitat from anchoring and the use of bottom tending gear by fishing vessels even outside sanctuary boundaries.

The deeper portions of the bank include mesophotic coral communities featuring black corals, octocorals, fish, sponges, algae, and invertebrates. Blushing star coral (foreground, far left, and far right) is the dominant coral species at McGrail Bank. In some areas, the overall coral cover is as high as 28%. Other reef-building corals are also present, but in smaller numbers. No other coral reef is known to be dominated by this species. McGrail Bank (formerly known as 18 Fathom Bank) features areas of coral reefs dominated by large colonies of the blushing star coral, Stephanocoenia intersepta. Credit: FGBNMSīottom Depth Range: 144-512 feet (44-156 meters) Two separate sections of McGrail Bank are part of the sanctuary.

McGrail Bank McGrail Bank lies to the east of Rankin and 28 Fathom Banks.

Surviving Middle School by David McGrail