Table 25. List of sites and benthic habitats surveyed by the submersible Johnson Sea Link II
around Puerto Rico and the USVI during 1985
Site
Code
Site
Habitat
Code
Habitat Code
1
West St. Croix-USVI
SS
Sand-Silt
2
Northwest St. Thomas - USVI
MS
Mud-Sand
3
Guánica - PR
MSS
Mud-Sand-Silt
4
Grappler Seamount - PR
RS
Rock-Sand
5
Northeast St. Croix - USVI
WC
Water Column
6
South St.John - USVI
RR
Rock Rubble
7
Southeast Vieques - PR
LW
Lower Wall
8
Northwest St. Thomas - USVI
RW
Rock Wall
9
Northeast Fajardo - PR
SR
Sand-Rubble
10
North San Juan Bay - PR
RRS
Rock-Rubble-Sand
11
North Dorado - PR
RWRT
Rock Wall-Reef Top
12
North Aguadilla - PR
W
Wall
13
Northwest Aguadilla - PR
WRT
Wall-Reef Top
14
Desecheo Island - PR
RT
Reef Top
15
Bajo de Sico - PR
and conductivity profiles were obtained in every dive. The hydrographyc data from these
profiles has been included as a layer in the GIS map atlas of deep reefs around PR and
the USVI (this volume). Videos of the slope habitat and documentation of benthic
habitats and predominant species were noted by scientists aboard the submersible.
Most of the scientific personnel aboard were fish experts; therefore, the information
regarding the invertebrate community is limited to general taxonomic inferences.
A total of 57 fish taxa were identified by scientists aboard the Johnson Sea Link II from
depths of 750 to 300 meters (1000 - 2,500 feet), on the deepest section of the insular
slope (Table 26). An assemblage of 31 species were only observed from depths beyond
300 meters, whereas 26 species were observed throughout a much more ample depth
range, including species reaching the upper insular slope at depths of 120 meters. The
typical habitat at the deep end of the insular slope consists of unconsolidated sand-silt
and mud (e.g. SS, MS, MSS). Rock-sand, (RS), rock-rubble (RR), lower wall (LW), rockwall (RW) and rock-rubble-sand (RRS) are found higher along the slope. An
assemblage of demersal species associated with soft bottom and reef slope habitats
was observed, along with a benthopelagic assemblage that appears to be widely
distributed throughout the water column associated with the slope. The most common
90
around Puerto Rico and the USVI during 1985
Site
Code
Site
Habitat
Code
Habitat Code
1
West St. Croix-USVI
SS
Sand-Silt
2
Northwest St. Thomas - USVI
MS
Mud-Sand
3
Guánica - PR
MSS
Mud-Sand-Silt
4
Grappler Seamount - PR
RS
Rock-Sand
5
Northeast St. Croix - USVI
WC
Water Column
6
South St.John - USVI
RR
Rock Rubble
7
Southeast Vieques - PR
LW
Lower Wall
8
Northwest St. Thomas - USVI
RW
Rock Wall
9
Northeast Fajardo - PR
SR
Sand-Rubble
10
North San Juan Bay - PR
RRS
Rock-Rubble-Sand
11
North Dorado - PR
RWRT
Rock Wall-Reef Top
12
North Aguadilla - PR
W
Wall
13
Northwest Aguadilla - PR
WRT
Wall-Reef Top
14
Desecheo Island - PR
RT
Reef Top
15
Bajo de Sico - PR
and conductivity profiles were obtained in every dive. The hydrographyc data from these
profiles has been included as a layer in the GIS map atlas of deep reefs around PR and
the USVI (this volume). Videos of the slope habitat and documentation of benthic
habitats and predominant species were noted by scientists aboard the submersible.
Most of the scientific personnel aboard were fish experts; therefore, the information
regarding the invertebrate community is limited to general taxonomic inferences.
A total of 57 fish taxa were identified by scientists aboard the Johnson Sea Link II from
depths of 750 to 300 meters (1000 - 2,500 feet), on the deepest section of the insular
slope (Table 26). An assemblage of 31 species were only observed from depths beyond
300 meters, whereas 26 species were observed throughout a much more ample depth
range, including species reaching the upper insular slope at depths of 120 meters. The
typical habitat at the deep end of the insular slope consists of unconsolidated sand-silt
and mud (e.g. SS, MS, MSS). Rock-sand, (RS), rock-rubble (RR), lower wall (LW), rockwall (RW) and rock-rubble-sand (RRS) are found higher along the slope. An
assemblage of demersal species associated with soft bottom and reef slope habitats
was observed, along with a benthopelagic assemblage that appears to be widely
distributed throughout the water column associated with the slope. The most common
90