A pioneering longterm experiment on mesophotic macrofouling communities in the North Atlantic [PDF]
Communications BiologyThe mesophotic zone represents one of our planet’s largest and least explored biomes. An increasing number of studies evidence the importance of macrofouling species in marine ecosystems, but information on these communities and the factors influencing ...
João Canning-Clode +31 more
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Marked spatial heterogeneity of macro-benthic communities along a shallow-mesophotic depth gradient in Reunion Island [PDF]
Scientific ReportsMesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have gained considerable attention this last decade but the paucity of knowledge on these ecosystems is pronounced, particularly in the Southwestern Indian Ocean region. We explore the spatial variation in macro-benthic
Ludovic Hoarau +8 more
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Deep connections: exploring the genetic connectivity of mesophotic and shallow-water populations of the sponge Axinella polypoides [PDF]
Scientific ReportsMesophotic sponge grounds (MSG), which are known as local biodiversity hotspots along the Eastern Mediterranean, have been suggested to serve as refugia for threatened species from shallower habitats.
Tom Morav +9 more
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Megabenthic assemblages from South Adriatic marine mesophotic environments [PDF]
Scientific ReportsMesophotic habitats in the Mediterranean Sea host rich and diverse benthic assemblages, dominated by invertebrates alongside sciaphilous algae. Recent findings suggest that certain mesophotic bioconstructions built by invertebrates, while classified ...
Guadalupe Giménez +7 more
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Beyond the Surface: Mesophotic Reefs as Potential Refuges for Shallow Fish Assemblages [PDF]
Ecology and EvolutionThe deep reef refugia hypothesis suggests that the effects of disturbance decrease as depth increases; thus, reefs in the mesophotic zone potentially serve as refuges for communities in shallower zones. This study challenged this hypothesis by evaluating
Manuel Francisco Velasco‐Lozano +4 more
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Mesophotic coral communities escape thermal coral bleaching in French Polynesia
Royal Society Open Science, 2021 Climate change and consequent coral bleaching are causing the disappearance of reef-building corals worldwide. While bleaching episodes significantly impact shallow waters, little is known about their impact on mesophotic coral communities.
Laetitia Hedouin +2 more
exaly +3 more sources
Mesophotic rocks dominated by Diazona violacea: a Mediterranean codified habitat
The European Zoological Journal, 2020 The football ascidian Diazona violacea was observed in three different sites in the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea), from 53 to 116 m depth.
Federica Montesanto +2 more
exaly +2 more sources
Pseudanthias hangapiko, a new anthiadine serranid (Teleostei, Serranidae, Anthiadinae) from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) [PDF]
ZooKeys, 2021 Pseudanthias hangapiko sp. nov. (Teleostei, Serranidae, Anthiadinae) is herein described from three specimens collected from a depth of 83 m in a mesophotic coral ecosystem off Hanga Piko, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile. Pseudanthias hangapiko sp.
Bart Shepherd +4 more
doaj +3 more sources
Mesophotic Gorgonian Corals Evolved Multiple Times and Faster Than Deep and Shallow Lineages
Diversity, 2021 Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) develop on a unique environment, where abrupt environmental changes take place. Using a time-calibrated molecular phylogeny (mtDNA: mtMutS), we examined the lineage membership of mesophotic gorgonian corals ...
Juan A. Sánchez +3 more
doaj +1 more source
Population Structure of Montastraea cavernosa on Shallow versus Mesophotic Reefs in Bermuda. [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2015 Mesophotic coral reef ecosystems remain largely unexplored with only limited information available on taxonomic composition, abundance and distribution. Yet, mesophotic reefs may serve as potential refugia for shallow-water species and thus understanding
Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley +3 more
doaj +1 more source