Quattrini Andrea M.

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Quattrini
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Andrea M.
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  • Preprint
    Demersal fish assemblages on seamounts and other rugged features in the northeastern Caribbean
    ( 2017-03) Quattrini, Andrea M. ; Demopoulos, Amanda W. J. ; Singer, Randal ; Roa-Varon, Adela ; Chaytor, Jason D.
    Recent investigations of demersal fish communities in deepwater (>50 m) habitats have considerably increased our knowledge of the factors that influence the assemblage structure of fishes across mesophotic to deep-sea depths. While different habitat types influence deepwater fish distribution, whether different types of rugged seafloor features provide functionally equivalent habitat for fishes is poorly understood. In the northeastern Caribbean, different types of rugged features (e.g., seamounts, banks, canyons) punctuate insular margins, and thus create a remarkable setting in which to compare demersal fish communities across various features. Concurrently, several water masses are vertically layered in the water column, creating strong stratification layers corresponding to specific abiotic conditions. In this study, we examined differences among fish assemblages across different features (e.g., seamount, canyon, bank/ridge) and water masses at depths ranging from 98 to 4060 m in the northeastern Caribbean. We conducted 26 remotely operated vehicle dives across 18 sites, identifying 156 species of which 42% of had not been previously recorded from particular depths or localities in the region. While rarefaction curves indicated fewer species at seamounts than at other features in the NE Caribbean, assemblage structure was similar among the different types of features. Thus, similar to seamount studies in other regions, seamounts in the Anegada Passage do not harbor distinct communities from other types of rugged features. Species assemblages, however, differed among depths, with zonation generally corresponding to water mass boundaries in the region. High species turnover occurred at depths <1200 m, and may be driven by changes in water mass characteristics including temperature (4.8–24.4 °C) and dissolved oxygen (2.2–9.5 mg per l). Our study suggests the importance of water masses in influencing community structure of benthic fauna, while considerably adding to the knowledge of mesophotic and deep-sea fish biogeography.
  • Preprint
    Testing the depth-differentiation hypothesis in a deepwater octocoral
    ( 2015-03) Quattrini, Andrea M. ; Baums, Iliana B. ; Shank, Timothy M. ; Morrison, Cheryl L. ; Cordes, Erik E.
    The depth-differentiation hypothesis proposes that the bathyal region is a source of genetic diversity and an area where there is a high rate of species formation. Genetic differentiation should thus occur over relatively small vertical distances, particularly along the upper continental slope (200-1000 m) where oceanography varies greatly over small differences in depth. To test whether genetic differentiation within deepwater octocorals is greater over vertical rather than geographic distances, Callogorgia delta was targeted. This species commonly occurs throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico at depths ranging from 400-900 m. We found significant genetic differentiation (FST=0.042) across seven sites spanning 400 km of distance and 400 m of depth. A pattern of isolation by depth emerged, but geographic distance between sites may further limit gene flow. Water mass boundaries may serve to isolate populations across depth; however, adaptive divergence with depth is also a possible scenario. Microsatellite markers also revealed significant genetic differentiation (FST=0.434) between C. delta and a closely-related species, C. americana, demonstrating the utility of microsatellites in species delimitation of octocorals. Results provided support for the depth-differentiation hypothesis, strengthening the notion that factors co-varying with depth serve as isolation mechanisms in deep-sea populations.
  • Article
    Exploration of the canyon-incised continental margin of the northeastern United States reveals dynamic habitats and diverse communities
    (Public Library of Science, 2015-10-28) Quattrini, Andrea M. ; Nizinski, Martha S. ; Chaytor, Jason D. ; Demopoulos, Amanda W. J. ; Roark, E. Brendan ; France, Scott C. ; Moore, Jon A. ; Heyl, Taylor ; Auster, Peter J. ; Kinlan, Brian ; Ruppel, Carolyn D. ; Elliott, Kelley P. ; Kennedy, Brian R. C. ; Lobecker, Elizabeth ; Skarke, Adam ; Shank, Timothy M.
    The continental margin off the northeastern United States (NEUS) contains numerous, topographically complex features that increase habitat heterogeneity across the region. However, the majority of these rugged features have never been surveyed, particularly using direct observations. During summer 2013, 31 Remotely-Operated Vehicle (ROV) dives were conducted from 494 to 3271 m depth across a variety of seafloor features to document communities and to infer geological processes that produced such features. The ROV surveyed six broad-scale habitat features, consisting of shelf-breaching canyons, slope-sourced canyons, inter-canyon areas, open-slope/landslide-scar areas, hydrocarbon seeps, and Mytilus Seamount. Four previously unknown chemosynthetic communities dominated by Bathymodiolus mussels were documented. Seafloor methane hydrate was observed at two seep sites. Multivariate analyses indicated that depth and broad-scale habitat significantly influenced megafaunal coral (58 taxa), demersal fish (69 taxa), and decapod crustacean (34 taxa) assemblages. Species richness of fishes and crustaceans significantly declined with depth, while there was no relationship between coral richness and depth. Turnover in assemblage structure occurred on the middle to lower slope at the approximate boundaries of water masses found previously in the region. Coral species richness was also an important variable explaining variation in fish and crustacean assemblages. Coral diversity may serve as an indicator of habitat suitability and variation in available niche diversity for these taxonomic groups. Our surveys added 24 putative coral species and three fishes to the known regional fauna, including the black coral Telopathes magna, the octocoral Metallogorgia melanotrichos and the fishes Gaidropsarus argentatus, Guttigadus latifrons, and Lepidion guentheri. Marine litter was observed on 81% of the dives, with at least 12 coral colonies entangled in debris. While initial exploration revealed the NEUS region to be both geologically dynamic and biologically diverse, further research into the abiotic conditions and the biotic interactions that influence species abundance and distribution is needed.
  • Article
    Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat
    (Nature Research, 2023-11-09) Cordes, Erik E. ; Demopoulos, Amanda W. J. ; Davies, Andrew J. ; Gasbarro, Ryan ; Rhoads, Alexandria C. ; Lobecker, Elizabeth ; Sowers, Derek ; Chaytor, Jason D. ; Morrison, Cheryl L. ; Weinnig, Alexis M. ; Brooke, Sandra ; Lunden, Jay J. ; Mienis, Furu ; Joye, Samantha B. ; Quattrini, Andrea M. ; Sutton, Tracey T. ; McFadden, Catherine S. ; Bourque, Jill R. ; McClain-Counts, Jennifer P. ; Andrews, Brian D. ; Betters, Melissa J. ; Etnoyer, Peter J. ; Wolff, Gary A. ; Bernard, Bernie B. ; Brooks, James M. ; Rasser, Michael K. ; Adams, Caitlin
    Coral reefs are iconic ecosystems that support diverse, productive communities in both shallow and deep waters. However, our incomplete knowledge of cold-water coral (CWC) niche space limits our understanding of their distribution and precludes a complete accounting of the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we present the results of recent surveys of the CWC mound province on the Blake Plateau off the U.S. east coast, an area of intense human activity including fisheries and naval operations, and potentially energy and mineral extraction. At one site, CWC mounds are arranged in lines that total over 150 km in length, making this one of the largest reef complexes discovered in the deep ocean. This site experiences rapid and extreme shifts in temperature between 4.3 and 10.7 °C, and currents approaching 1 m s−1. Carbon is transported to depth by mesopelagic micronekton and nutrient cycling on the reef results in some of the highest nitrate concentrations recorded in the region. Predictive models reveal expanded areas of highly suitable habitat that currently remain unexplored. Multidisciplinary exploration of this new site has expanded understanding of the cold-water coral niche, improved our accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat, and emphasizes the importance of properly managing these systems.
  • Article
    Ameripathidae, a new family of antipatharian corals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Hexacorallia, Antipatharia)
    (Pensoft Publishers, 2024-05-31) Horowitz, Jeremy ; Opresko, Dennis M. ; Herrera, Santiago ; Hansel, Colleen M. ; Quattrini, Andrea M.
    A new family of antipatharian corals, Ameripathidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia), is established for Ameripathes pseudomyriophylla Opresko & Horowitz, gen. et sp. nov. The new family resembles Myriopathidae and Stylopathidae in terms of the morphology of the polyps and tentacles and the pinnulate branching of the corallum. Phylogenetic analysis using a genomic data set of 741 conserved element loci indicates that the new family is sister to a clade containing the Myriopathidae, Stylopathidae, Antipathidae, and Aphanipathidae.