Midwater Ecology OverviewTeamProjectsPublicationsLatest NewsTechnologies The largest living space on Earth lies between the ocean’s sunlit upper layers and the dark floor of the deep sea, on average some 4,000 meters below. This vast midwater habitat is home to our planet’s largest ecosystems and its largest animal communities. Midwater species are adapted to a fluid, three-dimensional world without solid boundaries; and they surely outnumber all other animals on Earth. They comprise essential links in the oceanic food web, providing food for important commercial species like tuna and salmon, as well as for whales, turtles, and giant squid. This is a huge planetary resource, yet we know far less about these species than we do about the constituents of any other major habitat.For more than a century scientists studied midwater animals indirectly, by towing nets from ships at the surface or by probing the depths with sound. At MBARI, we study midwater animals directly, using undersea vehicles to carry our cameras, instruments, tools and samplers into their deep habitat. This approach, with humans in the real-time control loop, has revolutionized our understanding of midwater ecology and the biology of the animals who live there. These advances are enabled by new technologies; the hardware, software, and methods developed by MBARI engineers, video technicians, and our operations group.MBARI’s ecological investigations in midwater encompass a wide range of research topics. An overall goal of these efforts is to accurately trace and quantify the passage of organic carbon from primary production at the surface, through the complexities of the midwater community, to the animals that live on the deep seafloor. Among the most striking discoveries of our continuing explorations has been the unexpected profusion and diversity of gelatinous animals. We have documented their diversity, described many new taxa, tracked their ecological niches in the community, and investigated their behavior patterns. The behavior of deep-sea animals has long been a subject of mystery and speculation. Because of the access provided by MBARI’s ROVs, detailed observations of the behavior of midwater animals have become possible for the first time. The value of this new kind of information is that it allows a much better understanding of the complex ecological interactions between species.A fundamental component of MBARI’s midwater research program is the midwater Time Series project. For about 30 years, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and more recently autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), with high-resolution video cameras have conducted transects through the upper kilometer of the water column at a single site over Monterey Canyon. The data generated by this project include the identities and abundance of all species encountered, coupled to concurrent measurements of relevant water properties. This is the only data set of its kind in the world and it is immensely valuable by providing a baseline for examining regular seasonal cycling, episodic events like El Niño, and the growing effects of climate change. Gallery Team Directory Bruce H. Robison Senior Scientist/Midwater Ecologist Principal Investigator Kim Reisenbichler Research Specialist Rob Sherlock Research Specialist Projects All Projects Midwater Time Series Project Midwater Time Series Providing specific data to investigate the natural and climate-change-caused variability of oceanic communities at depths below the mixed layer. Respiration Studies Project Respiration Studies Investigating the ecological effects of Central California’s expanding oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Food Web Dynamics Project Food Web Dynamics Explaining the complex structure and functioning of the deep-sea food web off Central California. Behavior Studies Project Behavior Studies Behavior patterns of deep-sea animals have long been a subject of mystery and speculation. Because of access provided by MBARI’s ROVs, detailed observations of the behavior of these animals have become possible for the first time. Vertical Migration Studies Project Vertical Migration Studies Vertically migrating animals comprise a large and active component of the ocean’s biological pump, and when compared with passively sinking detritus, the vertical migrators contribute significantly to the overall flux of particulate organic carbon. Age and Growth Studies Project Age and Growth Studies Studying the pace of life of deep-sea animals to better understand their recovery rates and resilience. Antarctic Research Project Antarctic Research Global climate change is causing Antarctic ice shelves to shrink and split apart, yielding thousands of free-drifting icebergs that impact nearby chemistry and ecology, serving as “hotspots” for ocean life. Publications All Publications Stenvers, V.I., R.E. Sherlock, K.R. Reisenbichler, and B.H. Robison. 2022. ROV observations reveal infection dynamics of gill parasites in midwater cephalopods. Scientific Reports, 12: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11844-y Matsumoto, G.I., L.M. Christianson, B.H. Robison, S.H.D. Haddock, and S.B. Johnson. 2022. Atolla reynoldsi sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa, Coronatae, Atollidae): A new species of coronate Scyphozoan found in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. Animals, 12: 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12060742 Yoerger, D.R., A.F. Govindarajan, J.C. Howland, P.H. Wiebe, M. Curran, J. Fujii, D. Gomez-Ibanez, K. Katija, B.H. Robison, B.W. Hobson, M. Risi, and S.M. Rock. 2021. A hybrid underwater robot for multidisciplinary investigation of the ocean twilight zone. Science Robotics, 6(55): eabe1901. https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.abe1901 Hoving, H. J. T., P. Neitzel, S. Christiansen, R. Kiko, B.H. Robison, P. Silva, and A. Körtzinger. 2020. In situ observations show vertical community structure of pelagic fauna in the eastern tropical North Atlantic off Cape Verde. Scientific Reports, 10: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78255-9 Davis, A.L., K.N. Thomas, F.E. Goetz, B.H. Robison, S. Johnsen, and K.J. Osborn. 2020. Ultra-black camouflage in deep-sea fishes. Current Biology, 30: 3470–3476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.044 Latest News All News News MBARI shares latest tech innovations for visualizing ocean life and ecosystems at Marine Imaging Workshop Behind the Scenes 10.10.24 News MBARI’s advanced underwater robots discover deep-sea squid that broods giant eggs News 06.11.24 News Fresh from the Deep:MBARI scientists film elusive dreamer anglerfish in 4K Behind the Scenes 11.07.23 Technologies All Technologies Vehicle, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Dorado Class i2MAP Technology i2MAP An autonomous underwater vehicle with a high-resolution camera, downward and forward-looking acoustic transducers, and water chemistry sensors. Instrument Midwater Respirometer System (MRS) Technology Midwater Respirometer System (MRS) An instrument that allows MBARI researchers to study the breathing of deep-sea animals without removing the animals from their environment. Data All Data Sorry, no results were found.
Midwater Time Series Project Midwater Time Series Providing specific data to investigate the natural and climate-change-caused variability of oceanic communities at depths below the mixed layer.
Respiration Studies Project Respiration Studies Investigating the ecological effects of Central California’s expanding oxygen minimum zone (OMZ).
Food Web Dynamics Project Food Web Dynamics Explaining the complex structure and functioning of the deep-sea food web off Central California.
Behavior Studies Project Behavior Studies Behavior patterns of deep-sea animals have long been a subject of mystery and speculation. Because of access provided by MBARI’s ROVs, detailed observations of the behavior of these animals have become possible for the first time.
Vertical Migration Studies Project Vertical Migration Studies Vertically migrating animals comprise a large and active component of the ocean’s biological pump, and when compared with passively sinking detritus, the vertical migrators contribute significantly to the overall flux of particulate organic carbon.
Age and Growth Studies Project Age and Growth Studies Studying the pace of life of deep-sea animals to better understand their recovery rates and resilience.
Antarctic Research Project Antarctic Research Global climate change is causing Antarctic ice shelves to shrink and split apart, yielding thousands of free-drifting icebergs that impact nearby chemistry and ecology, serving as “hotspots” for ocean life.
Stenvers, V.I., R.E. Sherlock, K.R. Reisenbichler, and B.H. Robison. 2022. ROV observations reveal infection dynamics of gill parasites in midwater cephalopods. Scientific Reports, 12: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11844-y
Matsumoto, G.I., L.M. Christianson, B.H. Robison, S.H.D. Haddock, and S.B. Johnson. 2022. Atolla reynoldsi sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa, Coronatae, Atollidae): A new species of coronate Scyphozoan found in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. Animals, 12: 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12060742
Yoerger, D.R., A.F. Govindarajan, J.C. Howland, P.H. Wiebe, M. Curran, J. Fujii, D. Gomez-Ibanez, K. Katija, B.H. Robison, B.W. Hobson, M. Risi, and S.M. Rock. 2021. A hybrid underwater robot for multidisciplinary investigation of the ocean twilight zone. Science Robotics, 6(55): eabe1901. https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.abe1901
Hoving, H. J. T., P. Neitzel, S. Christiansen, R. Kiko, B.H. Robison, P. Silva, and A. Körtzinger. 2020. In situ observations show vertical community structure of pelagic fauna in the eastern tropical North Atlantic off Cape Verde. Scientific Reports, 10: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78255-9
Davis, A.L., K.N. Thomas, F.E. Goetz, B.H. Robison, S. Johnsen, and K.J. Osborn. 2020. Ultra-black camouflage in deep-sea fishes. Current Biology, 30: 3470–3476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.044
News MBARI shares latest tech innovations for visualizing ocean life and ecosystems at Marine Imaging Workshop Behind the Scenes 10.10.24
News Fresh from the Deep:MBARI scientists film elusive dreamer anglerfish in 4K Behind the Scenes 11.07.23
Vehicle, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Dorado Class i2MAP Technology i2MAP An autonomous underwater vehicle with a high-resolution camera, downward and forward-looking acoustic transducers, and water chemistry sensors.
Instrument Midwater Respirometer System (MRS) Technology Midwater Respirometer System (MRS) An instrument that allows MBARI researchers to study the breathing of deep-sea animals without removing the animals from their environment.