Gallery 3 — Anthropocene paleoecology

PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA

EX2503: BEYOND THE BLUE: PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA ROV & MAPPING

NOAA SHIP OKEANOS EXPLORER

APRIL-MAY 2025 || CHIEF SCIENTISTS: Sara Kahanamoku, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Brian Kennedy, Ocean Discovery League

Sara examining a sediment collection jar on EX2503

Crinoids from EX2503 Dive03 - Unnamed Guyot 01 Northeast of Volador Seamount (1120m)

Corallivorous jellyfish from EX2503 Dive05 - Solie Seamount (1260m depth). This jellyfish is likely a new species, and represents a new trophic group for jellyfish

Slime star from EX2503 Dive13 - Deep Volcanic Dome in Extreme Western Papahānaumokuākea (4600m water depth). This is a likely a new species and is currently being described by Dr. Chris Mah (Smithsonian NMNH).

A forest of hemicorallids (precious corals) from EX2503 Dive10 - Unnamed
Seamount 03 Northwest of Holanikū (1410m depth).

A likely new species of predatory chiton that sets a trap for its prey, found on EX2503 Dive10 - Unnamed Seamount 03 Northwest of Holanikū

An unknown species of jellyfish observed on EX2503 Dive 06 - USS Yorktown (5250m depth).

Hull of the USS Yorktown (EX2503 Dives 06 and 07, 5250m depth)