Description
Submarine canyons found along the continental shelf of the New York Bight (NYB) are highly dynamic, interconnected ecosystems that serve as critical deep-sea biodiversity hotspots. These deep-sea habitats are increasingly vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors, including commercial fishing, coastal pollution, ocean acidification, and hypoxia. Direct, continuous observation of these remote environments remains a significant challenge. However, chronometric structures, like the skeletons of the long-lived, azooxanthellate coral Desmophyllum dianthus, could provide a valuable long-term record of deep-sea environmental conditions. This study aims to quantify temporal patterns of anthropogenic contamination, ocean acidification, and hypoxia within NYB submarine canyons by analyzing microchemical biomarkers in D. dianthus coral skeletons. Coral specimens were collected from the Hudson Canyon during a NOAA research cruise conducted in September 2025. Utilizing synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence imaging or laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, multiple elemental analytes (e.g., B, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, U) can be mapped across skeletal growth axes. These trace element-to-calcium ratios can contribute to establishing proxies for pH, dissolved oxygen, and heavy metal accumulation. This study will establish crucial pre-industrial baselines for NYB submarine canyon ecosystems. Ultimately, linking coastal urban development to offshore benthic impacts will improve our understanding of deep-sea ecology and inform robust conservation strategies for these vulnerable habitats.