USGS Collects Deep-Water Samples in Gulf to Study Ocean Life Using eDNA

The US Geological Survey said its scientists collected water and coral samples from about 150 meters deep in the Gulf of Mexico to study deep-water ocean life using environmental DNA. The agency said the work is part of the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities restoration effort.

The USGS said a remotely operated vehicle equipped with lights, cameras, a robotic arm and Niskin bottles collected the samples from the mesophotic zone. Water samples were filtered and sent to the EESC Leetown Research Laboratory in Kearneysville, WV. Coral samples were sent to the Wetland and Aquatic Research Center in Gainesville, FL.

The agency said scientists extracted and analyzed eDNA from the water samples and compared genetic markers with previously collected specimens to identify species present in the area.

The USGS said the collection and analysis is part of a collaboration between the agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other governmental and non-governmental organizations. The agency said the portfolio of projects arose after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill with the goal of restoring injured mesophotic and deep seafloor habitats.

The USGS said Niskin bottles have collected thousands of water samples since 2022 throughout the Gulf of America. The agency said eDNA allows scientists to identify species with far less impact on deep-sea communities than traditional methods like trawling.

The USGS said a coral collected by the ROV four years ago grew at the Wetland and Aquatic Research Center and was returned to the seafloor on a weighted base.