Creep into the Deep^{™
Virtual Research Mission to the Deep-Sea}

Deep Sea Scientist Bios: Dr. John Rooney

Hey Kids,

Jake, the SeaDog here, I caught up coastal geologist and oceanographer, John Rooney.  When he's not playing at the beach with  his son and friends Dr. Rooney is doing some fascinating work deep in the sea....

John, what is your favorite animal?  I'd have to say dogs. A terrible admission for a marine scientist, but there it is.

What do you study?  Because much less is known about it than shallower water areas. We're studying "mesophotic coral ecosystems" on this cruise. These are basically reefs of corals, algae, and other organisms, some of which form magnificent coral "gardens." They have existed right under our noses for thousands of years and we haven't even known about most of them until a few years ago! Moreover, when we look for them on our research cruises, we continue to find new ones!

How did you get interested in the deep-sea?  I think from being a dive instructor and doing a lot of diving in Hawaii. I can remember so many times coming to the top of a wall underwater that dropped away from into the deep. I would want to go down it and explore, but knew I didn't have enough air in the tank on my back to be able to do that safely.

What's your most amazing experience with an ocean animal or in the ocean? I recall one dive many years ago during which I caught a couple of large lobsters. I was heading back to the boat with one in each hand when what first looked like a wall materialized out of the blue in front of me. It was a mother and baby whale and they passed close enough that I could have given a couple of kicks and touched them. It was pretty awe inspiring.

What is the coolest animals you've ever seen in the deep sea?  That whale was pretty cool. I've seen some very cool sharks & other critters too. I study corals a fair amount. The stony corals that we've been researching lately live at depths (approximately 120 to 300 feet and deeper) where people thought it was too deep for light-dependant coral reefs. Based on data we just got back, some of these corals, which form big plate and bowl-shaped colonies, are hundreds of years old.

What are two things you do in your home to help the environment? We recently installed a solar water heater at my home, and I do most of my commuting by bus and bicycle. We also recycle, and I'm a bit fanatical about picking up trash. Especially plastic trash. I've seen lots of bird carcasses in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Where their stomach was you can see piles of debris, mostly plastic. I wonder how many fishes and other creatures in the ocean die each year from ingesting plastic that their body can't process?

What are you hoping to learn/discover on this research cruise? We hope to learn more about where these mesophotic coral reefs are found, what fishes and other organisms use the nooks and crannies the coral colonies provide for shelter, and what the physical and biological characteristics are that permit these reefs to flourish.