Deep Water Corals of the Davidson Seamount: 2006 Expedition

Oceanographic data from the 2006 Deep Water Corals expedition aboard the R/V Western Flyer to the Davidson Seamount off Central California. The project aimed to characterize coral distribution patterns at depths between 1,250 and 3,700 meters using models, topographic indices, and substratum type. Complementary studies included biodiversity assessments, population dynamics, and coral age/growth analysis using radiometric techniques.

Use Cases

• Modeling coral distribution based on topographic index and substratum type.
• Studying coral biodiversity and population dynamics from collected specimens.
• Conducting age and growth analysis of corals using radiometric techniques.
• Supporting educational exhibits with high-definition video imagery from the seamount.

Strengths

• Focuses on a specific, largely unexplored deep-sea environment (over 99.98% of the Davidson Seamount was unexplored at the time).
• Expedition involved complementary studies including taxonomy, population dynamics, and innovative radiometric aging.
• Data and imagery were leveraged for public outreach via BBC/Discovery Channel and aquarium exhibits.

Limitations

• Critical metadata such as column names, row counts, data size, and specific license are unknown across all platforms.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2006-02-04 vs. 2026-04-01) create uncertainty about data currency and maintenance.
• The dataset's specific file format (APPLICATION/VND.LOTUS-ORGANIZER) may present accessibility challenges for modern analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Data collected during a research cruise (R/V WESTERN FLYER) using methods likely including submersibles and sampling.

Time Range

January 26, 2006 - February 4, 2006

Freshness

2026-04-01 15:28:32.097652

Geography

Davidson Seamount in the North Pacific Ocean, off Central California