Sediment macrofaunal composition and sediment grain size of multiple deep-sea coral habitats in the Gulf of Mexico, 2009-2014

Occurrences of macrofauna identified in sediment cores. Study areas were located in the northern Gulf of Mexico on the continental slope off Louisiana and Mississippi; encompassing a geographic range of 450 kilometers and an overall depth range of 263-1095 m. Infaunal communities were examined adjacent to three coral types: two scleractinian corals, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, and octocorals. Sediment push cores were collected to assess diversity, composition, numerical abundance, and functional traits of macrofauna (>300 μm) adjacent to deep-sea coral habitats.