Nautilus Samples [in special issue: New Frontiers in Ocean Exploration: The E/V Nautilus 2014 Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Field Season]

While the vast majority of data Nautilus collects are digital-high-definition video, still photos, sensor, measurements, and navigation—physical samples are invaluable to scientists. Biological samples are critical in determining the species of an organism and may lead to the discovery of a new organism or new knowledge that extends a species’ range or adaptations. Biological samples also permit scientists to study food web and reproductive dynamics as well as growth rates, which are critical for research on fisheries and other natural marine resources. Rock and sediment samples are key to learning more about sedimentation rates, geological formation and history, and marine geohazards that may impact coastal communities.