MRI: Development of a Remote Operated Vehicle for Studies of Deep Coral Reef Biology

这一重大研究仪器奖资助了深水遥控运载器(ROV)的开发，以支持各种海底生态和珊瑚研究。该仪器的主要用途是探索和描述深水珊瑚礁栖息地(30米)的多样性和生物学特征，也被称为珊瑚礁“暮光地带”。利用ROV，珊瑚礁科学家可以1)探索和定量记录10至750米深度的深海珊瑚礁群落的生物地理和生物多样性，重点是世界各地的深海珊瑚、海绵和微生物群落；以及(2)利用分子遗传学和对珊瑚礁系统之间表型差异的评估，研究全世界浅礁和深礁之间以及珊瑚礁系统之间的连通性问题。水下机器人还能够在深海进行现场采样和保存，以便于研究深海珊瑚礁的生理学和珊瑚礁新物种的分类。除了标准的教师研究外，夏季本科生研究项目的参与者还利用ROV并将他们的发现发布在美国自然历史博物馆的科学简报网站上。科学简报是一个创新的在线和展览项目，为公众提供了一个了解科学发现的兴奋之窗。这些研究和教学工作的更多成果将通过摘要和同行评议的出版物以及学生和教职员工积极参加专业会议的方式广泛传播。

This Major Research Instrumentation award funds the development of a deep water remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to support a variety of benthic ecology and coral studies. The primary use of this instrument is to explore and characterize the diversity and biology of deep-water coral reef habitats (30 m), also known as the Coral Reef "Twilight Zone." The ROV allows coral reef scientists to 1) explore and quantitatively record the biogeography and biodiversity of deep reef communities at depths from 10 to 750m with particular emphasis on the deep coral, sponge and microbial communities worldwide; and (2) examine the issue of connectivity between shallow and deep reefs, and between reef systems worldwide using both molecular genetics and assessments of phenotypic variation between reef systems. The ROV also enables in situ sampling and preservation at depth to facilitate the study of deep reef physiology and taxonomy of new species on coral reefs. In addition to the standard faculty research, summer undergraduate research project participants utilize the ROV and post their findings on the American Museum of Natural History 'Science Bulletins' website. Science Bulletins is an innovative online and exhibition program that offers the public a window into the excitement of scientific discovery. Additional outcomes from these research and teaching efforts will be broadly disseminated through abstracts and peer reviewed publications, as well as by active participation of students and faculty at professional meetings.