Andrew Devogelaere | Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, CSUMB (original) (raw)

Papers by Andrew Devogelaere

Research paper thumbnail of Abyssal hydrothermal springs—Cryptic incubators for brooding octopus

Science Advances

Does warmth from hydrothermal springs play a vital role in the biology and ecology of abyssal ani... more Does warmth from hydrothermal springs play a vital role in the biology and ecology of abyssal animals? Deep off central California, thousands of octopus ( Muusoctopus robustus ) migrate through cold dark waters to hydrothermal springs near an extinct volcano to mate, nest, and die, forming the largest known aggregation of octopus on Earth. Warmth from the springs plays a key role by raising metabolic rates, speeding embryonic development, and presumably increasing reproductive success; we show that brood times for females are ~1.8 years, far faster than expected for abyssal octopods. Using a high-resolution subsea mapping system, we created landscape-scale maps and image mosaics that reveal 6000 octopus in a 2.5-ha area. Because octopuses die after reproducing, hydrothermal springs indirectly provide a food supplement to the local energy budget. Although localized deep-sea heat sources may be essential to octopuses and other warm-tolerant species, most of these unique and often cryp...

Research paper thumbnail of Author response for "Oceanic giants dance to atmospheric rhythms: Ephemeral wind‐driven resource tracking by blue whales

Research paper thumbnail of Epibenthic faunal community dynamics and seasonal species turnover in a deep-sea coral ecosystem

Deep-sea Research Part I-oceanographic Research Papers, Jun 1, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Phenology in the deep sea: seasonal and tidal feeding rhythms in a keystone octocoral

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Biological rhythms are widely known in terrestrial and marine systems, where the behaviour or fun... more Biological rhythms are widely known in terrestrial and marine systems, where the behaviour or function of organisms may be tuned to environmental variation over periods from minutes to seasons or longer. Although well characterized in coastal environments, phenology remains poorly understood in the deep sea. Here we characterized intra-annual dynamics of feeding activity for the deep-sea octocoral Paragorgia arborea . Hourly changes in polyp activity were quantified using a time-lapse camera deployed for a year on Sur Ridge (1230 m depth; Northeast Pacific). The relationship between feeding and environmental variables, including surface primary production, temperature, acoustic backscatter, current speed and direction, was evaluated. Feeding activity was highly seasonal, with a dormancy period identified between January and early April, reflecting seasonal changes in food availability as suggested by primary production and acoustic backscatter data. Moreover, feeding varied with tid...

Research paper thumbnail of Oceanic giants dance to atmospheric rhythms: Ephemeral wind‐driven resource tracking by blue whales

Research paper thumbnail of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries ServiceTable of Contents

List of Figures..................................................................................... more List of Figures................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables.................................................................................................................... vi Executive Summary........................................................................................................ vii Acknowledgements........................................................................................................... x

Research paper thumbnail of Broad-Scale Non-indigenous Species Monitoring along the West Coast in National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves

sanctuaries.noaa.gov

Broad-Scale Non-indigenous Species Monitoring along the West Coast in ... National Marine Sanctua... more Broad-Scale Non-indigenous Species Monitoring along the West Coast in ... National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves ... Report to National Fish & Wildlife Foundation ... Catherine E. deRivera1*, Greg Ruiz1, Jeff Crooks2, Kerstin Wasson2, ...

Research paper thumbnail of Guide to Translocating Coral Fragments for Deep Sea Restoration

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating Biodiversity and Environmental Observations in Support of National Marine Sanctuary and Large Marine Ecosystem Assessments

Oceanography, 2021

Species and habitats are the subjects of legislation that mandates reporting of information on ec... more Species and habitats are the subjects of legislation that mandates reporting of information on ecosystem conditions. Improvements in sensors, sampling platforms, information systems, and collaborations among experts and information users now enables more effective and up-to-date information to meet regional and national needs. Specifically, advances in environmental DNA (eDNA)-based assessments of biodiversity, community science data, various underwater imaging devices, and environmental, behavioral, and physiology observations from animal telemetry provide new opportunities to address multiple requirements for reporting status and trends, including insights into life in the deep ocean. Passive and active acoustic sensors help monitor marine life, boat traffic, and noise pollution. Satellites provide repeated, frequent, and long-term records of many relevant variables from global to local scales and, when combined with numerical computer simulations, allow planning for future scenar...

Research paper thumbnail of Developing Science-Based Indicator Portfolios for National Marine Sanctuary Condition Reports

Research paper thumbnail of Coral Translocation as a Method to Restore Impacted Deep-Sea Coral Communities

Frontiers in Marine Science, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of New Passive Acoustic Monitoring in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

OCEANS 2016 MTS/IEEE Monterey, 2016

Understanding the marine soundscape is of growing importance to the National Marine Sanctuaries. ... more Understanding the marine soundscape is of growing importance to the National Marine Sanctuaries. In the center of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a new Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) project has begun. Using the power and communications infrastructure of the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) cabled observatory, we deployed a broadband, digital, omnidirectional hydrophone on Smooth Ridge, near the MARS node (36°42.75'N, 122°11.21'W; depth 891 m). The system has been recording almost continuously since 28 July 2015. Natural biological sound (biophony) dominated long-term spectral average results at frequencies below 50 Hz, showing seasonal patterns in baleen whale vocalizations. Prevalence of blue whale vocalizations during August through October 2015 was succeeded by prevalence of fin whale vocalizations during November 2015 through January 2016. Diel variations (stronger signal at night) were evident for both species. In the high-frequency range, beaked whale clicks have been detected and represent a focus for advancing automated detection and classification methods. Biophonic richness in this soundscape was also indicated by human-expert analysis results for a one-week period, during which biological sound events were detected 86% of the time. Examination of natural physical sound (geophony) has included rainfall and the relationship between wind speed and ambient sound. The first 10 months of data showed that sound levels at 2 kHz followed Wenz curve predictions for wind speeds above 5 m/s. Examination of human-made sound (anthrophony) has included noise from vessel traffic and explosions detonated underwater during fishery operations. This new PAM project is providing extensive information on biophony, geophony, and anthrophony in this deep soundscape, information that is essential to understanding and managing acoustic habitat of the Sanctuary.

Research paper thumbnail of Investigations of age and growth for three deep-sea corals from the Davidson Seamount off central California

Erlangen Earth Conference Series

Research paper thumbnail of Growth rate and age determination of bamboo corals from the northeastern Pacific Ocean using refined 210Pb dating

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring the Davidson Seamount; Combining Science, Public Outreach, and Resource Management

California and the World Ocean '02, 2005

ABSTRACT Scientific information is often interpreted to the public long after it has been discove... more ABSTRACT Scientific information is often interpreted to the public long after it has been discovered. NOAA programs (e.g., National Marine Sanctuary System and Office of Ocean Exploration) and private organizations (e.g., Monterey Bay Aquarium) are interested in more immediate sharing of information with the public so that it can be more effectively used in resource management. The Davidson Seamount is an underwater volcano off the coast of Central California, and recent advances in technology provide the opportunity to explore and characterize the biology of this deep-sea habitat. With an interdisciplinary team of scientists, outreach specialists, and resource managers, this exploration was presented to the public as it was happening with daily updates on a web site. The public also interacted by e-mail with the explorers during the expedition. Huge corals and sponges, deep-water fishes, and the technology needed to study this deep, dark habitat particularly engaged the public, resource managers, and scientists alike. Following the cruise there was national media interest in discoveries from the expedition, not only because the findings were spectacular, but because significant efforts were made to provide the media with access to the explorers and images of the findings. Resource managers are already using summary information from the cruise in processes that may potentially protect Davidson Seamount habitats. Even before the scientific data has been completely analyzed, the public and resource managers have been engaged in a healthy process of information sharing. In characterizing the biology of Davidson Seamount, we found that this model of an interdisciplinary expedition effectively integrated new scientific information into public understanding and management options for a unique area.

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of seafloor habitats and associated benthic fauna in areas open and closed to bottom trawling along the central California Continental Shelf

Executive Summary: A number of studies have shown that mobile, bottom-contact fishing gear (such ... more Executive Summary: A number of studies have shown that mobile, bottom-contact fishing gear (such as otter trawls) can alter seafloor habitats and associated biota. Considerably less is known about the recovery of these resources following such disturbances, though this information is critical for successful management. In part, this paucity of information can be attributed to the lack of access to adequate control sites – areas of the seafloor that are closed to fishing activity. Recent closures along the coast of central California provide an excellent opportunity to track the recovery of historically trawled areas and to compare recovery rates to adjacent areas that continue to be trawled. In June 2006 we initiated a multi-year study of the recovery of seafloor microhabitats and associated benthic fauna inside and outside two new Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) closures within the Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries. Study sites inside the EFH closure ...

Research paper thumbnail of Davidson Seamount: A Volcano Slowly Built on an Abandoned Spreading Center

Davidson Seamount is located 80 km off Big Sur, California, and rises from the 3500 m abyssal pla... more Davidson Seamount is located 80 km off Big Sur, California, and rises from the 3500 m abyssal plain to 1254 m depth. The elongated volcanic edifice consists of a series of parallel ridges serrated with steep cones, built over at least 5 million years from 14.8 to 9.8 Ma above a spreading center abandoned at ~20 Ma. It has been explored and sampled with the ROV Tiburon and part of the summit has been mapped using the MBARI Mapping AUV. Lithologic distribution from video observations, glass chemistry, Ar-Ar ages of the lavas, and part of new high-resolution mapping data are presented here.

Research paper thumbnail of Temporal variations in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, northeast Pacific

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2018

Using two years of nearly continuous recordings from Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Augu... more Using two years of nearly continuous recordings from Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, August 2015 through July 2017, variations in humpback whale song are examined on diel, seasonal, and interannual time scales. The cabled hydrophone is in humpback feeding and migratory habitat at 36.7128°N, 122.186°W. Diel analyses show 69% of song during night, 23% during day, and 8% during dusk or dawn. Seasonal analyses show song absence during summer (June–August), emergence during fall (September–October), peak during late fall/winter (November–January), and highly variable detection during spring (February–May). During both years >80% of song occurred during the November–January peak. Song detection within a month reached a maximum of 58% of the time during November 2016. Song length increased (p < 0.01) month-to-month from the start in fall through the end of the peak in January. The months of maximum song occurrence coincide with declining visual sighting of humpbacks within Mo...

Research paper thumbnail of Reduction of Low-Frequency Vessel Noise in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Frontiers in Marine Science

Low-frequency sound from large vessels is a major, global source of ocean noise that can interfer... more Low-frequency sound from large vessels is a major, global source of ocean noise that can interfere with acoustic communication for a variety of marine animals. Changes in vessel activity provide opportunities to quantify relationships between vessel traffic levels and soundscape conditions in biologically important habitats. Using continuous deep-sea (890 m) recordings acquired ∼20 km (closest point of approach) from offshore shipping lanes, we observed reduction of low-frequency noise within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (California, United States) associated with changes in vessel traffic during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Acoustic modeling shows that the recording site receives low-frequency vessel noise primarily from the regional shipping lanes rather than via the Sound Fixing and Ranging (SOFAR) channel. Monthly geometric means and percentiles of spectrum levels in the one-third octave band centered at 63 Hz during 2020 were compared with those from the same m...

Research paper thumbnail of Guide to Translocating Coral Fragments for Deep-sea Restoration

National Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Abyssal hydrothermal springs—Cryptic incubators for brooding octopus

Science Advances

Does warmth from hydrothermal springs play a vital role in the biology and ecology of abyssal ani... more Does warmth from hydrothermal springs play a vital role in the biology and ecology of abyssal animals? Deep off central California, thousands of octopus ( Muusoctopus robustus ) migrate through cold dark waters to hydrothermal springs near an extinct volcano to mate, nest, and die, forming the largest known aggregation of octopus on Earth. Warmth from the springs plays a key role by raising metabolic rates, speeding embryonic development, and presumably increasing reproductive success; we show that brood times for females are ~1.8 years, far faster than expected for abyssal octopods. Using a high-resolution subsea mapping system, we created landscape-scale maps and image mosaics that reveal 6000 octopus in a 2.5-ha area. Because octopuses die after reproducing, hydrothermal springs indirectly provide a food supplement to the local energy budget. Although localized deep-sea heat sources may be essential to octopuses and other warm-tolerant species, most of these unique and often cryp...

Research paper thumbnail of Author response for "Oceanic giants dance to atmospheric rhythms: Ephemeral wind‐driven resource tracking by blue whales

Research paper thumbnail of Epibenthic faunal community dynamics and seasonal species turnover in a deep-sea coral ecosystem

Deep-sea Research Part I-oceanographic Research Papers, Jun 1, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Phenology in the deep sea: seasonal and tidal feeding rhythms in a keystone octocoral

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Biological rhythms are widely known in terrestrial and marine systems, where the behaviour or fun... more Biological rhythms are widely known in terrestrial and marine systems, where the behaviour or function of organisms may be tuned to environmental variation over periods from minutes to seasons or longer. Although well characterized in coastal environments, phenology remains poorly understood in the deep sea. Here we characterized intra-annual dynamics of feeding activity for the deep-sea octocoral Paragorgia arborea . Hourly changes in polyp activity were quantified using a time-lapse camera deployed for a year on Sur Ridge (1230 m depth; Northeast Pacific). The relationship between feeding and environmental variables, including surface primary production, temperature, acoustic backscatter, current speed and direction, was evaluated. Feeding activity was highly seasonal, with a dormancy period identified between January and early April, reflecting seasonal changes in food availability as suggested by primary production and acoustic backscatter data. Moreover, feeding varied with tid...

Research paper thumbnail of Oceanic giants dance to atmospheric rhythms: Ephemeral wind‐driven resource tracking by blue whales

Research paper thumbnail of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries ServiceTable of Contents

List of Figures..................................................................................... more List of Figures................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables.................................................................................................................... vi Executive Summary........................................................................................................ vii Acknowledgements........................................................................................................... x

Research paper thumbnail of Broad-Scale Non-indigenous Species Monitoring along the West Coast in National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves

sanctuaries.noaa.gov

Broad-Scale Non-indigenous Species Monitoring along the West Coast in ... National Marine Sanctua... more Broad-Scale Non-indigenous Species Monitoring along the West Coast in ... National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves ... Report to National Fish & Wildlife Foundation ... Catherine E. deRivera1*, Greg Ruiz1, Jeff Crooks2, Kerstin Wasson2, ...

Research paper thumbnail of Guide to Translocating Coral Fragments for Deep Sea Restoration

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating Biodiversity and Environmental Observations in Support of National Marine Sanctuary and Large Marine Ecosystem Assessments

Oceanography, 2021

Species and habitats are the subjects of legislation that mandates reporting of information on ec... more Species and habitats are the subjects of legislation that mandates reporting of information on ecosystem conditions. Improvements in sensors, sampling platforms, information systems, and collaborations among experts and information users now enables more effective and up-to-date information to meet regional and national needs. Specifically, advances in environmental DNA (eDNA)-based assessments of biodiversity, community science data, various underwater imaging devices, and environmental, behavioral, and physiology observations from animal telemetry provide new opportunities to address multiple requirements for reporting status and trends, including insights into life in the deep ocean. Passive and active acoustic sensors help monitor marine life, boat traffic, and noise pollution. Satellites provide repeated, frequent, and long-term records of many relevant variables from global to local scales and, when combined with numerical computer simulations, allow planning for future scenar...

Research paper thumbnail of Developing Science-Based Indicator Portfolios for National Marine Sanctuary Condition Reports

Research paper thumbnail of Coral Translocation as a Method to Restore Impacted Deep-Sea Coral Communities

Frontiers in Marine Science, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of New Passive Acoustic Monitoring in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

OCEANS 2016 MTS/IEEE Monterey, 2016

Understanding the marine soundscape is of growing importance to the National Marine Sanctuaries. ... more Understanding the marine soundscape is of growing importance to the National Marine Sanctuaries. In the center of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a new Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) project has begun. Using the power and communications infrastructure of the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) cabled observatory, we deployed a broadband, digital, omnidirectional hydrophone on Smooth Ridge, near the MARS node (36°42.75'N, 122°11.21'W; depth 891 m). The system has been recording almost continuously since 28 July 2015. Natural biological sound (biophony) dominated long-term spectral average results at frequencies below 50 Hz, showing seasonal patterns in baleen whale vocalizations. Prevalence of blue whale vocalizations during August through October 2015 was succeeded by prevalence of fin whale vocalizations during November 2015 through January 2016. Diel variations (stronger signal at night) were evident for both species. In the high-frequency range, beaked whale clicks have been detected and represent a focus for advancing automated detection and classification methods. Biophonic richness in this soundscape was also indicated by human-expert analysis results for a one-week period, during which biological sound events were detected 86% of the time. Examination of natural physical sound (geophony) has included rainfall and the relationship between wind speed and ambient sound. The first 10 months of data showed that sound levels at 2 kHz followed Wenz curve predictions for wind speeds above 5 m/s. Examination of human-made sound (anthrophony) has included noise from vessel traffic and explosions detonated underwater during fishery operations. This new PAM project is providing extensive information on biophony, geophony, and anthrophony in this deep soundscape, information that is essential to understanding and managing acoustic habitat of the Sanctuary.

Research paper thumbnail of Investigations of age and growth for three deep-sea corals from the Davidson Seamount off central California

Erlangen Earth Conference Series

Research paper thumbnail of Growth rate and age determination of bamboo corals from the northeastern Pacific Ocean using refined 210Pb dating

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring the Davidson Seamount; Combining Science, Public Outreach, and Resource Management

California and the World Ocean '02, 2005

ABSTRACT Scientific information is often interpreted to the public long after it has been discove... more ABSTRACT Scientific information is often interpreted to the public long after it has been discovered. NOAA programs (e.g., National Marine Sanctuary System and Office of Ocean Exploration) and private organizations (e.g., Monterey Bay Aquarium) are interested in more immediate sharing of information with the public so that it can be more effectively used in resource management. The Davidson Seamount is an underwater volcano off the coast of Central California, and recent advances in technology provide the opportunity to explore and characterize the biology of this deep-sea habitat. With an interdisciplinary team of scientists, outreach specialists, and resource managers, this exploration was presented to the public as it was happening with daily updates on a web site. The public also interacted by e-mail with the explorers during the expedition. Huge corals and sponges, deep-water fishes, and the technology needed to study this deep, dark habitat particularly engaged the public, resource managers, and scientists alike. Following the cruise there was national media interest in discoveries from the expedition, not only because the findings were spectacular, but because significant efforts were made to provide the media with access to the explorers and images of the findings. Resource managers are already using summary information from the cruise in processes that may potentially protect Davidson Seamount habitats. Even before the scientific data has been completely analyzed, the public and resource managers have been engaged in a healthy process of information sharing. In characterizing the biology of Davidson Seamount, we found that this model of an interdisciplinary expedition effectively integrated new scientific information into public understanding and management options for a unique area.

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of seafloor habitats and associated benthic fauna in areas open and closed to bottom trawling along the central California Continental Shelf

Executive Summary: A number of studies have shown that mobile, bottom-contact fishing gear (such ... more Executive Summary: A number of studies have shown that mobile, bottom-contact fishing gear (such as otter trawls) can alter seafloor habitats and associated biota. Considerably less is known about the recovery of these resources following such disturbances, though this information is critical for successful management. In part, this paucity of information can be attributed to the lack of access to adequate control sites – areas of the seafloor that are closed to fishing activity. Recent closures along the coast of central California provide an excellent opportunity to track the recovery of historically trawled areas and to compare recovery rates to adjacent areas that continue to be trawled. In June 2006 we initiated a multi-year study of the recovery of seafloor microhabitats and associated benthic fauna inside and outside two new Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) closures within the Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries. Study sites inside the EFH closure ...

Research paper thumbnail of Davidson Seamount: A Volcano Slowly Built on an Abandoned Spreading Center

Davidson Seamount is located 80 km off Big Sur, California, and rises from the 3500 m abyssal pla... more Davidson Seamount is located 80 km off Big Sur, California, and rises from the 3500 m abyssal plain to 1254 m depth. The elongated volcanic edifice consists of a series of parallel ridges serrated with steep cones, built over at least 5 million years from 14.8 to 9.8 Ma above a spreading center abandoned at ~20 Ma. It has been explored and sampled with the ROV Tiburon and part of the summit has been mapped using the MBARI Mapping AUV. Lithologic distribution from video observations, glass chemistry, Ar-Ar ages of the lavas, and part of new high-resolution mapping data are presented here.

Research paper thumbnail of Temporal variations in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, northeast Pacific

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2018

Using two years of nearly continuous recordings from Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Augu... more Using two years of nearly continuous recordings from Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, August 2015 through July 2017, variations in humpback whale song are examined on diel, seasonal, and interannual time scales. The cabled hydrophone is in humpback feeding and migratory habitat at 36.7128°N, 122.186°W. Diel analyses show 69% of song during night, 23% during day, and 8% during dusk or dawn. Seasonal analyses show song absence during summer (June–August), emergence during fall (September–October), peak during late fall/winter (November–January), and highly variable detection during spring (February–May). During both years >80% of song occurred during the November–January peak. Song detection within a month reached a maximum of 58% of the time during November 2016. Song length increased (p < 0.01) month-to-month from the start in fall through the end of the peak in January. The months of maximum song occurrence coincide with declining visual sighting of humpbacks within Mo...

Research paper thumbnail of Reduction of Low-Frequency Vessel Noise in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Frontiers in Marine Science

Low-frequency sound from large vessels is a major, global source of ocean noise that can interfer... more Low-frequency sound from large vessels is a major, global source of ocean noise that can interfere with acoustic communication for a variety of marine animals. Changes in vessel activity provide opportunities to quantify relationships between vessel traffic levels and soundscape conditions in biologically important habitats. Using continuous deep-sea (890 m) recordings acquired ∼20 km (closest point of approach) from offshore shipping lanes, we observed reduction of low-frequency noise within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (California, United States) associated with changes in vessel traffic during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Acoustic modeling shows that the recording site receives low-frequency vessel noise primarily from the regional shipping lanes rather than via the Sound Fixing and Ranging (SOFAR) channel. Monthly geometric means and percentiles of spectrum levels in the one-third octave band centered at 63 Hz during 2020 were compared with those from the same m...

Research paper thumbnail of Guide to Translocating Coral Fragments for Deep-sea Restoration

National Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Growth rate and age determination of bamboo corals from the northeastern Pacific Ocean using refined 210Pb dating

Marine Ecological Progress Series, 2009

Bamboo corals from Davidson Seamount and from the Gulf of Alaska were aged using a refined 210Pb ... more Bamboo corals from Davidson Seamount and from the Gulf of Alaska were aged using a refined 210Pb dating technique. The goal was to determine growth rates and age for several bamboo corals with higher precision. Radiometric results for 2 Davidson Seamount corals (Keratoisis sp.) converged on a radial growth rate of ~0.055 mm yr–1. One colony was aged at 98 ± 9 yr, with an average axial growth rate of ~0.7 cm yr–1. The age of a large colony was >145 yr with an estimated axial growth rate of 0.14 to 0.28 cm yr–1. Inconsistent rates may indicate nonlinear axial growth. A Keratoisis sp. specimen from the Gulf of Alaska was aged at 116 ± 29 yr from a radial growth rate of ~0.056 mm yr–1, which led to an average axial growth rate of ~1.0 cm yr–1. An Isidella tentaculum colony was aged at 53 ± 10 yr and grew most rapidly with a radial growth rate of ~0.10 mm yr–1 and an average axial growth rate of ~1.4 cm yr–1; however, the 210Pb decay pattern may have provided evidence for either a hiatus in radial growth or environmental changes in 210Pb. Our findings of slow growth and long life compared favorably with other bamboo coral studies and provided age estimates with greater precision. The high longevity of bamboo coral is an indication that recovery from disturbance or removal may take decades to a century. These age data provide a basis for a defensible position on the protection of bamboo coral and essential information for describing other life history characteristics.