A new species of Litarachna (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Pontarachnidae) from a Caribbean mesophotic coral ecosystem [PDF]
ZooKeys, 2014 New records of pontarachnid mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico are presented. Litarachna lopezae sp. n., from substrata collected from Bajo de Sico, a mesophotic coral reef ecosystem in Mona Passage off Puerto Rico, is ...
Vladimir Pesic +3 more
doaj +2 more sources
Comparative Use of a Caribbean Mesophotic Coral Ecosystem and Association with Fish Spawning Aggregations by Three Species of Shark. [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2016 Understanding of species interactions within mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; ~ 30-150 m) lags well behind that for shallow coral reefs. MCEs are often sites of fish spawning aggregations (FSAs) for a variety of species, including many groupers.
Alexandria E Pickard +6 more
doaj +2 more sources
Adaptive strategies of Caribbean sponge holobionts beyond the mesophotic zone [PDF]
MicrobiomeBackground Marine sponges and their microbiomes function together as holobionts, playing essential roles in ecosystem dynamics and exhibiting remarkable adaptability across depth gradients.
Benoît Paix +6 more
doaj +2 more sources
The oldest “brown mesophotic” coral-stromatoporoid ecosystem from the Silurian of Gotland was functionally similar to modern turbid reefs [PDF]
Scientific ReportsCoral reefs generally thrive under high light conditions. As light decreases with depth, corals may adapt their morphology to optimise light capture.
Mikołaj K. Zapalski +5 more
doaj +2 more sources
Mesophotic reefs offer thermal refuge to the 2023 Caribbean mass bleaching event in the Cayman Islands [PDF]
Scientific ReportsCoral reefs are increasingly threatened by marine heatwaves, which drive widespread coral bleaching and mortality. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have been proposed as potential thermal refuges due to their greater depth and relative isolation from ...
Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley +1 more
doaj +2 more sources
Novel Gene Clusters for Secondary Metabolite Synthesis in Mesophotic Sponge‐Associated Bacteria [PDF]
Microbial BiotechnologyMesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) host a diverse array of sponge species, which represent a promising source of bioactive compounds. Increasing evidence suggests that sponge‐associated bacteria may be the primary producers of these compounds.
Nuo Chen +8 more
doaj +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
Hidden in the deep: Distinct benthic trajectories call for monitoring of mesophotic reefs
Conservation Letters, 2022 Coral reef conservation management depends on long‐term monitoring efforts for a sound understanding of ecosystem structuring, functioning, and dynamics.
Alejandra Hernandez‐Agreda +4 more
doaj +1 more source
Conventional and technical diving surveys reveal elevated biomass and differing fish community composition from shallow and upper mesophotic zones of a remote United States coral reef. [PDF]
PLoS ONE, 2017 The world's coral reefs appear to be in a global decline, yet most previous research on coral reefs has taken place at depths shallower than 30 m. Mesophotic coral ecosystem (depths deeper than ~30 m) studies have revealed extensive, productive habitats ...
Roldan C Muñoz +7 more
doaj +1 more source
Ecosphere, 2021 On Caribbean coral reefs, sponges are important members of the benthic community and play multiple roles in ecosystem structure and function. They have an important role in benthic‐pelagic coupling, consuming particulate organic matter (POM) and ...
Keir J. Macartney +3 more
doaj +1 more source