Workspace at NMNH MSC. #taxonomy #blackcorals

I am Kurt Bryant Bacharo, currently a graduate student in the Molecular Invertebrate and Systematics Laboratory @miselab.bsky.social at the University of the Ryukyus. Prior to relocating to Japan, I finished my BS and MS degrees in Marine Biology at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines where I had the privilege to study the readily accessible shallow-water reefs in my country. Image: Kurt Bacharo smiling and wearing glasses, a white hard hat, flotation device and a DSBS17 shirt on the deck of the R/V Kaimei.

Coming from the developing world, the concept of deep-sea exploration has always been out of sight, out of mind. The opportunity only opened to me when I was selected as an OceanCensus participant to board JAMSTEC R/V Kaimei for the KM 24-03 (Leg 2) research cruise last year to explore the Kyushu-Palau Ridge and the Daito Islands. The latter is part of the Deep-Sea Archaic Refugia in Karst (D-ARK) project, whose main objective has been on the documentation of the deep-sea biodiversity found inside limestone caves. Now in its second year, I am lucky to be part of the project again to further explore the hidden biodiversity of the Daito Islands. This year's participation for the KM 25-06C research cruise was made possible by a Research Support Award granted by @DSBSoc. Image: Kurt gesturing towards the docked R/V Kaimei from the adjacent pier.

As my current project focuses on the taxonomy of black corals in southern Japan, the deep-sea offers significant research opportunities related to biodiversity, biogeography, and species discovery. Few of the specimens collected both in KM 24-03 (Leg 2) and KM 25-06C research cruises highlighted new records of black corals in the NW Pacific, and perhaps some are likely new to science. Image: Two pictures of Kurt smiling towards the camera on deck of the R/V Kaimei. He is wearing a dark blue JAMSTEC shirt.

Another exciting 2025 #DSBSoc support awardee!

Meet Kurt Bacharo (@kurtbb.bsky.social), a grad student in the @miselab.bsky.social at U. of the Ryukyus working with #BlackCorals and currently aboard the #JAMSTEC R/V Kaimei exploring the biodiversity off the Daito Islands.

Read more in alt-text!

Diving into the World of Black Corals: A Q&A with Deep-Sea Scientist Erika Gress In this Q&A marine scientist Erika Gress shares what makes black corals so special and the role they play in deep-sea environments.

Some black corals may live for 7,000 years, making them among the oldest animals on Earth.

In this Q&A, marine scientist Erika Gress dives into what makes them unique, their role in deep-sea ecosystems, and why they need protection.

Read more: buff.ly/TxAWWNH
#BlackCorals #DeepSea #DefendTheDeep

The studied assemblages were mostly dominated by #gorgonians and #blackcorals. They were structurally complex, functionally diverse and well-preserved, harboring some of the #densest black coral populations reported to date.

Erika Gress grinning outside of a boat - the ocean is reflected in the windows behind her.

Image 1: Erika Gress smiling and emerging from a submersible. Image 2: Erika Gress in a hard-hat holding up a paper sign that says "Jiaolong 300 dive 18/08/2024" with the submersible in the background.

Image 1: The submersible Jiaolong is lowered into the ocean while an inflatable boat approaches. Image 2: Erika and two collaborators inside the submersible in front of the controls.

Image 1: Erika Gress sorting samples with collaborators (and holding a coral). Image 2: View of an coral photographed inside the submersible Jiaolong.

Happy Day 3 of #17DSBS!

Meet Erika Gress, who specializes in #BlackCorals (Antipatharia) taxonomy, phylogenomics & ecology. During the 2024 Western Pacific Cruise for “Digital #DeepSea Typical Habitats” expedition, her and her team collected coral material from 11 families, 5 orders, & 2 classes.