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TORTUGA'S NATURAL TREASURES Pioneering Search of Unique Florida Deep-water Habitat Mission Specs: When: June 03 - 11, 2007 Where: Deep-water habitats at the edge of the Continental shelf off the Dry Tortugas Who: Dr. Amy Wright and John Reed - HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic - Biomedical Marine Research Group What: Searching unexplored seafloor habitats for marine organisms with potential biomedical properties. 
SummaryJoin scientists from the Biomedical Marine Research Group at Harbor Branch as they continue their explorations of deep water habitats off Florida beginning June 3rd through June 11th, 2007. This year they continue their search for unusual marine organisms that may hold the key to treatment of diseases such as cancer or drug resistant bacterial infection in the deep-water habitats at the edge of the Continental shelf off the Dry Tortugas. They will explore, for the first time, two areas called the Tortugas and Agassiz's Valleys using the Johnson-Sea-Link human occupied vehicle. These valleys which lie in very deep-water off South Florida will take the submersible to the maximum of their depth range. Charts suggest a rugged topography - ideal for collection of organisms useful in Biomedical Science - but very little is actually known about what is down there. We don't even know for certain what the bottom type is (is it sand or is it rock?). This area, first described by Louis Agassiz in the mid-1800's remains an unexplored entity. The scientists will meet the research vessel Seward Johnson at the Port of Key West on June 3rd and begin work on the 4th. Join us as they explore the deep-reefs off Florida's coast in search of hidden natural treasure. CRUISE PARTICIPANTS This expedition is made possible through funding by a grant to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution from the State of Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. |
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