.jpg)
Deep Sea Biology Symposium, Hong Kong, SAR China, January 12-17, 2026
Ten members of the DEEPEND team just returned from the 17th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium in Hong Kong, SAR China. The symposium is put on by the Deep-Sea Biology Society (DSBS). Tammy Frank (NSU) presented an invited talk on vision and bioluminescence in the Sensory Biology session. Tracey Sutton (NSU) presented results from the northern Gulf of

Worlds colliding: DEEPEND pelagic program expands to deep-reef environments to examine benthopelagic coupling
The DEEPEND (Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics; www.deependconsortium.org) program has been studying the epipelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic fauna of the Gulf of Mexico for the last 14 years (and counting). Given the progress made offshore, we are excited to announce an addition to the DEEPEND research portfolio, a detailed examination of the interactions of mesopelagic and deep-benthic (particularly deep coral) assemblages along the outer continental slope.

Limnology and Oceanography Article about Cetaceans
A recent research article led by Dr. Matthew Woodstock and two other DEEPENDers, Dr. Tracey Sutton and Dr. Yuying Zhang, was recognized by Limnology and Oceanography, one of the world’s premier oceanographic journals, as one of the most viewed new papers for the journal.

Two DEEPENDERS Exploring Ocean Sciences Meeting
Dr. Heather Judkins and her grad student, Claire de Noyo, both presented new DEEPEND research at the 2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting in February in New Orleans! Heather shared results from her ongoing cephalopod diet metabarcoding study which helps piece together the complex deep-sea food web of the Gulf of Mexico. Of the 63 individuals analyzed, fishes accounted for the majority of prey items.