A-34 



Lophelia prolifera is a large pale-pink anastomosing 

 colonial hard coral that frequently forms deep-sea coral 

 banks (Stetson, Squires and Pratt, 1962) . Its geographic 

 distribution is from Nova Scotia to Brazil at depths ranging 

 from 95 to 1000 meters. Lophelia banks have best been 

 studied on the Blake Plateau where they closely follow the 

 800-meter isobath (Steve Cairn, personal communication). A 

 dense stand of Lophelia was observed on the west wall of 

 Oceanographer Canyon at 1100 meters. However, extensive 

 Lophelia rubble was also found on the wall of that canyon at 

 depths ranging from 700 to 1300 meters. 



Alcyonarians 



Paragovgia arborea was the most spectacular soft coral 

 seen within the study area. It is a massive red branching 

 gorgonian with large polyps and is restricted to hard sub- 

 strates. It was seen in Norfolk Canyon between 400 and 600 

 meters and in Oceanographer Canyon between 900 and 1100 

 meters. P. arborea has also been reported from Baltimore 

 Canyon (specimen at the Smithsonian) and the northeast tip 

 of Georges Bank in a region known to local fishermen as "The 

 Trees", where it apparently provides a rich habitat for 

 commercial fish species. 



Anthomastus grandiflorus is a bright-red low growing 

 alcyonacean restricted to soft substrates. This species was 

 found throughout the study area, with highest densities 



