Rising water temperatures and increasing carbon dioxide concentrations remain among the greatest threats to ocean ecosystems globally. This warming trend and associated ocean acidification poses a unique threat to species that use calcium carbonate to build their shells or skeletons, such as corals. While significant research has been dedicated to examining the effects of changing ocean dynamics on coastal reefs – this January Dr. Julie Trotter, University of Western Australia, and her team, will join Falkor to look deeper.
This expedition will be of great significance, as SOI and the science team undertakes the first ROV-based deep sea exploration of submarine canyons that have formed offshore southwestern Australia. For the first time, these unique deep-sea canyons will be documented, imaged, and strategically sampled by ROV SuBastian. Sampling will not only be for identifying yet to be discovered species, but also to undertake comprehensive, high-resolution geochemical analyses of, for example, coral skeletons post-cruise. Deep-sea ROV technology is unavailable to Australian researchers, making this expedition a true voyage of discovery.
Data & Publications
Annotated imagery is available in Squidle+. [You may have to create a username and password to access full capabilities]. To view images from this cruise, click SELECT DEPLOYMENTS, and choose FK200126.
ADCP data has been processed and archived by UHDAS.
Environmental sensor data is archived at Rolling Deck to Repository.
ROV data, Falkor navigation, Google Earth visualizations, and processed multibeam is archived at MGDS.
Preliminary physico-chemical water column data collected from CTD casts, can be found in this spreadsheet.
Processed multibeam data is archived at MGDS.
Water Column Chemistry Data has been archived at Australian Ocean Data Network.
- 30 day Preliminary Post Cruise Report: The Great Australian Deep-sea Coral and Canyon Adventure
- Final Cruise Report: ROV Exploration of Deep-water Coral Habitats of Southwest Australian Submarine Canyons
- Beaman, R., Picard, K., and Miller, A. (2022). RV Falkor Surveys in Australia 2020-2021. Oral Presentation and Conference Paper, Hydrospatial 2021 Conference, Australasian Hydrographic Society, Cairns, Australia. [Abstract and presentation are OPEN ACCESS].
- Trotter, J., McCulloch, M., D'Olivo, J., Tisnérat-Laborde, N., Taviani, M., and Montagna, P. (2022). Deep-water Coral Records of Glacial and Recent Ocean-atmosphere Dynamics from the Perth Canyon in the Southeast Indian Ocean. Quaternary Science Advances, 6, doi: 10.1016/j.qsa.2022.100052. [This articel has been published OPEN ACCESS].
- Trotter, J., Taviani, M., Foglini, F., Sadekov, A., Skrzypek, G., Mazzoli, C., et al. (2022). Unveiling Deep-sea Habitats of the Southern Ocean-facing Submarine Canyons of Southwestern Australia. Progress in Oceanography, 209, doi: 10.1016/j.pocean.2022.102904. [This article has been published as OPEN ACCESS with support from SOI].
- Taviani, M., Foglini, F., Castellan, G., Montagna, P., McCulloch, M., and Trotter, J. (2023). First assessment of anthropogenic impacts in submarine canyon systems off southwestern Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 857 (1), doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159243. [This article has been published as OPEN ACCESS with support from SOI].
- Stewart, A., Pietsch, T., Moore, J., Peng, X. (2023). Upside-down swimming: in situ observations of inverted orientation of Gigantiactis, with a new depth record for the Ceratioidei. Journal of Fish Biology, doi: 10.1111/jfb.15609.
- Final Expedition Report: The Great Australian Deep-sea Coral and Canyon Adventure
- Taviani, M., Montagna, P., Hosie, A.,Castellan, G., Kemper, C., Foglini, F., McCulloch, M., and Trotter, J. (2024). Whale fall chemosymbiotic communities in a southwest Australian submarine canyon fill a distributional gap. Heliyon, 10(8), doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29206. [This article has been published as OPEN ACCESS with support from SOI].
- Ekins, M., and Wilson, N. (2024). New carnivorous sponges (Porifera: Cladorhizidae) from Western Australia, collected by a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Scientific Reports, 14, 22173, doi: 10/1038/s41598-024-72917-8. [This article has been published OPEN ACCESS courtesy of SOI].
Live ROV Footage
- 30 day Preliminary Post Cruise Report: The Great Australian Deep-sea Coral and Canyon Adventure
- Final Cruise Report: ROV Exploration of Deep-water Coral Habitats of Southwest Australian Submarine Canyons
- Beaman, R., Picard, K., and Miller, A. (2022). RV Falkor Surveys in Australia 2020-2021. Oral Presentation and Conference Paper, Hydrospatial 2021 Conference, Australasian Hydrographic Society, Cairns, Australia. [Abstract and presentation are OPEN ACCESS].
- Trotter, J., McCulloch, M., D'Olivo, J., Tisnérat-Laborde, N., Taviani, M., and Montagna, P. (2022). Deep-water Coral Records of Glacial and Recent Ocean-atmosphere Dynamics from the Perth Canyon in the Southeast Indian Ocean. Quaternary Science Advances, 6, doi: 10.1016/j.qsa.2022.100052. [This articel has been published OPEN ACCESS].
- Trotter, J., Taviani, M., Foglini, F., Sadekov, A., Skrzypek, G., Mazzoli, C., et al. (2022). Unveiling Deep-sea Habitats of the Southern Ocean-facing Submarine Canyons of Southwestern Australia. Progress in Oceanography, 209, doi: 10.1016/j.pocean.2022.102904. [This article has been published as OPEN ACCESS with support from SOI].
- Taviani, M., Foglini, F., Castellan, G., Montagna, P., McCulloch, M., and Trotter, J. (2023). First assessment of anthropogenic impacts in submarine canyon systems off southwestern Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 857 (1), doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159243. [This article has been published as OPEN ACCESS with support from SOI].
- Stewart, A., Pietsch, T., Moore, J., Peng, X. (2023). Upside-down swimming: in situ observations of inverted orientation of Gigantiactis, with a new depth record for the Ceratioidei. Journal of Fish Biology, doi: 10.1111/jfb.15609.
- Final Expedition Report: The Great Australian Deep-sea Coral and Canyon Adventure
- Taviani, M., Montagna, P., Hosie, A.,Castellan, G., Kemper, C., Foglini, F., McCulloch, M., and Trotter, J. (2024). Whale fall chemosymbiotic communities in a southwest Australian submarine canyon fill a distributional gap. Heliyon, 10(8), doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29206. [This article has been published as OPEN ACCESS with support from SOI].
- Ekins, M., and Wilson, N. (2024). New carnivorous sponges (Porifera: Cladorhizidae) from Western Australia, collected by a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Scientific Reports, 14, 22173, doi: 10/1038/s41598-024-72917-8. [This article has been published OPEN ACCESS courtesy of SOI].
In the News
Ground-breaking 32-day journey explores never before seen depths of Bremer Bay Canyon
The University of Western Australia News • April 2, 2020
Feast Your Eyes on Australia’s Newly Explored Depths
Scientific American • March 26, 2020
Explorers find new species in Bremer Canyon expedition
The Western Australian • March 20, 2020
A Newly Discovered Deep-Sea Coral Garden Could Unlock the Ocean’s Secrets
Gizmodo – Earther • March 14, 2020
Colourful gardens thrive in canyon’s deeps
Subiaco Post • March 7, 2020
Deep-Sea Coral Gardens and Graveyards Discovered in the Submarines Canyons Off South Western Australia
Eco Voice • March 4, 2020
Marine Biologists Find Coral Gardens in Deep-Sea Canyons Off Australia
Sci-News.com • March 2, 2020
Beneath Bremer Bay: WA Museum’s Andrew Hosie on the underwater discoveries of the R/V Falkor
Mornings with Gianfranco Di Giovanni – ABC Great Southern • March 2, 2020
Deep-Sea Coral Gardens Discovered in The Submarine Canyons Off South Western Australia
ECO Magazine • March 2, 2020
Coral Garden Was Found in the Depths of the Bremer Marine Park
Upload Comet • March 2, 2020
Deep-Sea Coral Gardens Discovered in Mysterious Canyons
Weather.com • March 2, 2020
Australia’s deep-sea canyons feature coral gardens
ZME Science • March 1, 2020
Stunning Deep-Sea Coral Gardens Discovered in the Submarine Canyons Off Australia
SciTech Daily • February 29, 2020
Deep-sea coral gardens discovered in canyons off Australia’s South West
Phys.org • February 28, 2020
Deep-Sea Coral Gardens, Graveyards Discovered Off Australia
Marine Technology News • February 28, 2020
Amazing creatures of the deep seen off SW Australia
LiveScience (YouTube Channel) • February 28, 2020
Deep-Sea Coral Gardens Discovered by Researchers in Mysterious Underwater Canyons
Newsweek • February 28, 2020
Deep-sea coral gardens discovered in canyons off Australia’s South West
Mirage News • February 28, 2020
Rare underwater video captures whale fall
MSN Network – GeoBeats • February 19, 2020
First Look At Bremer Canyon Seafloor
ABC Great Southern (Australian Broadcasting Company) • February 11, 2020
Schmidt Ocean Institute’s RV Falkor bound for deep-sea discoveries in WA’s Bremer Bay canyon
ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Company) • January 28, 2020
Expedition to the Depths Of the Ocean is About to Start
Hydro International • January 22, 2020
OI team prepare for an expedition of epic proportions
UWA News (University of Western Australia) • January 21, 2020
Research Vessel Falkor – See maritime science at work.
Australian National Maritime Museum • January 8, 2020
New Ocean Frontiers
9 News Sydney • January 6, 2020
New Ocean Frontiers
9 News Sydney • January 6, 2020
Breakfast with Josh Szeps (starts at 2:56:15)
ABC Radio Sydney • January 8, 2020